Heroes of Perpetua

by Brian Clopper

  Nelson thought this was the longest the orc’s berserker rage had lasted. From earlier observations, Nelson had timed out most of Horvuk’s rage sessions to last less than twenty seconds. Going on for a minute now, he showed no signs of calming down and spouting off a humble apology for his actions.

  Vua laughed and looked up the stairwell. “Father’s coming.”

  Hugo crashed into the elf from the side, wrapping his arms around her to pin her limbs.

  They hit the ground and rolled together. Hugo wound up on top and clamped his hands down on her upper arms to halt her squirming.

  She glared at him. “You were so easily fooled. All I had to do was let you feel like the big rescuer.”

  Hugo didn’t respond by cracking a joke. This surprised Nelson.

  Wizard Itzel started another spell. Was he going to attempt to restrain her again?

  Hugo said, “Hurry up! She’s strong!”

  Vua yanked her right arm free with such a severe jerk that Nelson was certain she’d dislocated her shoulder to do it. She punched Hugo until he let her go. She rolled free and stood.

  Her right arm hung funny. She noticed how all eyes were on this fact and smiled. Without hesitating, she grabbed the slumped shoulder and, with a jarring motion, snapped the arm back in place. Nelson heard the soft scrunch that time.

  The wizard waved Hugo out of the way. Magic danced in a loose cloud around his hands. “Give me a clear shot.”

  Hugo sidestepped, and the wizard tossed his magic at Vua.

  It hit an invisible barrier two feet from her and fizzled out along its curved surface.

  A stranger’s voice boomed through the chamber. “No more acts of violence directed at my daughter.”

  Baron Orb emerged from the stairwell, his right hand hanging from his side and radiating dark blue magic that trailed up the stairwell and out of view. His left he held high and pointed at the wizard.

  The baron was easily seven feet tall. Clad in dark armor that reminded Nelson of the exoskeleton of a scarab, his head was bald with a swirl of tattoos in place of where his hair would be. A trim red goatee framed his wide grin. His eyes were narrow slits, with the tattoos invading his brow.

  The baron danced his gaze around the room. He smirked at the orc, who appeared withdrawn and had his journal out, writing furiously.

  Nelson didn’t know what to do. Were they supposed to release their magic and reform Neruno so he could fight the baron?

  Vua walked over to her father and stood next to him. “I didn’t need protecting.”

  Her father didn’t respond.

  Lou inched closer to Hugo.

  The baron spotted the key-shaped gauntwing hovering above Hugo’s shoulder. He casually pointed and fired off a ball of magic that engulfed the shadowy creature.

  It wobbled higher, screaming as its body went bone white, and then the gauntwing shattered into pieces.

  Hugo gasped.

  White ash fell to the ground, coating a small section of the floor.

  Lou said, “What are you going to do?”

  Orb considered her question for a moment. He sighed. “Really none of your business.”

  Lou continued, “So no real plan then? Just winging it.”

  Why was she being so agitating? Nelson knew that tone. Once in a blue moon his mom had accused him of being uppity. He never thought he was, but he wasn’t the best at analyzing his own emotions and intentions, and those of others for that matter.

  Orb raised his left hand and swirled his thumb. He then poked the air with his index finger and spat out a short, unintelligible phrase. A ribbon of green magic shot toward Lou. It clamped down over her mouth but not her nose. When she tried to scream, it came out greatly muffled.

  “Actions speak louder than words.” The baron lazily drew up his right hand, holding his fingers down as if about to mimic a scuttling spider. The trail of dark blue magic slid into the room, bringing with it all the spirits that had rushed up the stairs earlier.

  Kilg, Noam, and the minotaur, along with all the rest, were compressed into a ball, their spirit forms contorted into poses that would’ve broken bones if they inhabited their true bodies.

  Naom pried an arm free and drilled a small hole in the magic with her own. She sent Wizard Itzel a pleading look. “Don’t let him take our magic. Expel us from our prison.”

  Nelson had listened carefully to the plight of these spirits. They’d been imprisoned in this keep and if they were cast out or forced their way free from its walls, they would be destroyed. The spirits didn’t want their magic to be stolen by the baron. What a horrible sacrifice!

  The wizard nodded. He jumped behind the table to make himself less of a target and started weaving a spell.

  Lou and Hugo had the same thought. They grabbed chairs and hurled them at the baron, then took off running to avoid any likely enemy fire.

  Baron Orb batted away one, while the other bounced off his immense back and into the wall.

  Nelson froze, so wanting to help but just not knowing what to do. The chairs didn’t do much more than offer a mild distraction.

  The baron shouted at Vua, “Deal with the wizard!”

  The elf summoned magic and stalked toward the golem.

  Nelson thought he could mount a bigger diversion. He concentrated and sent out his mental request. He received no answer back, but seconds later, hundreds of scrits flooded the room, racing over every surface. Nelson hoped none would be hurt. He sent out another message to the lizards. If things get too crazy, leave!

  He’d apprised the scrits of who the bad guys were, sending them a visual of both father and daughter. Hopefully the creatures grasped what he was telling them. They were smart but didn’t openly communicate with him like the owl had.

  Dozens swarmed the elf, preventing her from tossing about her magic as she was too busy trying to shake them free.

  Several leapt at the baron but hit an invisible barrier and slid down to the floor.

  It was utter chaos, and all Nelson could do was to keep track of the wizard and his friends. He did his best, but he also cared about the lizards he’d summoned and found his attention pulled to their many plights.

  The orc had his spear and was charging at the baron.

  The villain ignored the attack. He’s counting on the shield he erected to keep the orc at bay. Nelson found it interesting that the baron no longer shielded his daughter, just himself. Maybe because he had limits.

  Horvuk hit the invisible barrier and bounced off, landing near Lou.

  The wizard jumped onto the table and shot his magic at the imprisoned spirits. The baron’s energy binding them shattered, and the spirits tumbled free of each other.

  The baron roared. He’d been in the middle of his spell, and the energies he’d summoned so far fizzled out when he’d stopped casting.

  Naom shouted, “Go!”

  The spirits scattered, racing up the stairs and also down the corridor leading to the tower’s main entrance. What would happen once they left the keep?

  Wizard Itzel cast another spell with surprising speed. He sent its magic outward, bathing Lou, Nelson, Hugo, and the orc in a thick blanket of red magic.

  Both the baron and Vua produced similar magic that also flowed over them, completely coating their bodies.

  Before Nelson could figure out either magic’s purpose, the keep exploded, sending him and everyone else sky high.

  Chapter 19

  Hugo Prefers Dragons to Misleading Elves

  Hugo sailed through the air, watching the keep fly apart around him as the force of the explosion radiated outward from the chamber.He ghosted, afraid he’d be knocked out by the flying masonry and wood. Lou and the orc tumbled through the air and into a dust cloud.

  Hugo also fell through dust, which prevented him from seeing where Nelson and the wizard had been tossed. He did catch a glimpse of the baron in a brief break of the swirling debris. The villain smacked into a relatively intact wall. Orb disappeared in the dust,
looking as if he’d been knocked unconscious.

  Hugo slowed himself and twisted about to gain control of his trajectory. He flew up to avoid the remnants of the keep. No way the heavy stones could get too high.

  Surprisingly, he passed through several stones and a section of the wooden table before emerging out of the surging dust cloud. He flew around the edge of the still-expanding cloud.

  Hugo thought he saw a figure land at the edge of the woods. He zoomed over, surprised at how far the person had been hurled.

  It couldn’t be the baron as he’d been thrown in the opposite direction, but it could be his daughter or even Lou or Nelson. Hugo landed and entered the woods, nervous he would run into Vua.

  He could’ve stayed airborne and swept the area much faster, but he was feeling quite tired. He wondered if the fatigue was a bad sign, like how his thoughts had been jumbled earlier and he’d worried about being away from his real body for too long. Was this sudden exhaustion another sign of that?

  Hugo wandered through the forest, his eyesight going fuzzy from time to time. Also, he didn’t recall the terrain being so uneven and choppy. He was constantly traveling up and down its contours. Well, he had flown through it before. That would explain not knowing the ground had so many dips and rises.

  Hugo tripped over a body and landed partially in the ground. He pulled his head out of the dirt and took a moment to make sure he was fully a ghost.

  He spun about. The elf lay on her stomach, with her head turned to the side, an ugly gash streaked across her forehead.

  Hugo bent down and, without thinking, summoned the healing magics he’d used to mend her before. He performed the same action, sealing up the wound in record time. His speediness came at a cost. He was dizzy.

  He stepped back, upset at himself. Why had he saved the enemy? Vua had tricked him, made him care for her when she was just playing him. Had she really used him to gain access to the keep and the spirits within? He didn’t think so, as he’d stumbled into that situation. More likely she’d been hoodwinking him to lead her to his friends so her dad could defeat the elf magic in the three of them. And she wasn’t even an elf.

  He glared at her severe face, the high cheekbones and narrow chin conveying a cruelty he hadn’t glimpsed before. Too blinded by a pretty girl paying attention to me.

  She moved her head and let out a moan.

  Time to go. Hugo dashed deeper into the woods, hoping she hadn’t seen him.

  He stumbled over a rise and splashed through a creek, fuming at himself for not just flying over the waterway. Now he was soaked to his knees and moved slower. It was weird that his clothes could soak up water even as a ghost. He paused and made himself completely immaterial. The water fell free and saturated the ground. He returned to a semi-solid state to find he was dry again.

  Thought for sure that wouldn’t work.

  He continued forward, going slower and quieter so he could listen for any pursuit.

  Of course, Vua was probably a master sneak. She was a thief, after all. Or was she? He suddenly doubted her story about being one. Still, she could probably get the drop on him.

  He stalked through the woods, taking cover when he heard noises from behind. He continued once Vua didn’t show and he’d convinced himself it had just been a harmless animal moving through the underbrush.

  He rested against a tree, willing his vision to clear up. The last ten steps it had been fuzzy and no amount of coaxing it to fix itself had worked. He sagged, the fatigue an even heavier burden than before. His ghost muscles were on fire.

  Hugo thought something was majorly wrong.

  Ahead, the branches of several bushes parted, and a huge albino Stegosaurus minus the spikes lumbered into view.

  A voice spilled into his head. You’re the boy we are safeguarding back at Mag’s Landing.

  It reminded him of the telepathy the War Mammoths used in A Sky Divided, a fantasy RPG video game he’d sold back pretty quickly. He’d only made it halfway through that because leveling up had taken too much crafting.

  Hugo rubbed at his eyes to keep from seeing double. He focused on the creature. Were those nubs on its shoulder blades? What was that about? Wings. Had something taken its wings?

  It wasn’t a dinosaur.

  “Are you a dragon?” There was so much fog in his head now. Would he be able to hear the dragon’s thoughtspeak?

  I am. I’m Kanzu. You are weak. Have you been too far from your body?

  His legs felt ready to give out completely. He slid down the bark.

  The dragon slipped closer, pressing his long neck against Hugo’s shoulder to keep him upright.

  Hugo thought he made out the dragon’s last three words, but they were so elongated and wobbly in his head.

  I . . . will . . . help.

  ****

  Every square inch of his skin felt suddenly like it had been pricked by a needle. Hugo sat up, knocking the blanket from his chest. He stared down to see he was back in his real body and sitting atop crude bedding on the ground.

  He rubbed his arms and patted down his chest, tickled that the numbness was fading.

  Hugo rose to his knees. The sudden movement delivered waves of nausea, and he just as quickly dropped back down. The unease settled, and he let out a sigh, relieved he hadn’t thrown up.

  The white dragon sat on his haunches and smiled, revealing small teeth. You are feeling better but give it some time. I just put you back a few seconds ago.

  Hugo racked his brain. What was the dragon’s name? Kuki? Kando? No, wait . . . Kanzu!

  “Thank you, Kanzu. I take it you’re the dragon Lou said snuck off to join them?” His mind wasn’t nearly as foggy, which made it easy to pull out that detail.

  A green dragon walked up and leaned in. He was three times the size of Kanzu. My son’s folly will not go unpunished. He shot Kanzu a withering look. Leave us. I wish to talk to the boy.

  The scaly youngster frowned and clomped off.

  Hugo came to Kanzu’s defense. “He saved me. If he wasn’t out there, I wouldn’t have made it back in time.”

  The adult sized Hugo up for several long seconds. I know this. I did not state his punishment would be severe. He smiled, his teeth much more impressive than his son’s. Now, you will tell me what happened. One of my scouts witnessed the spirits exiting the Wayward Keep and the tower exploding. Were you and your friends in there? I suspect so. Are you the only to survive?

  Hugo held out a hand. “I’m Hugo Hammersmith.”

  The dragon simply nodded at his outstretched hand. Silurf, prime overseer of my clan.

  Hugo suddenly became aware of his surroundings. He was situated high on a slope of rocks that led to a large lake, not of water but made up of what looked like stones. He watched several waves of rocks surge ashore before counting the other dragons in sight. Four went about their business, while two sat slightly behind Silurf, watching Hugo with eagle eyes.

  Hugo filled the imposing dragon in on as much as he knew. He hated having to admit how Vua had tricked him, but at least the dragon didn’t radiate any judgment.

  “ . . . and that’s when your son came along and brought me back.”

  Silurf cocked his brow, which came off a little comical to Hugo. It was the way the scales bunched up that was amusing. You were noble to heal the elf. Why do that?

  “I don’t know. I didn’t try to analyze it. I just jumped in. Maybe it will come back to bite me in the butt later.” He shrugged.

  The dragon tilted his head and eyed Hugo’s backside. No worries there. Not much meat on your rump, and elves are primarily vegetarian. The clans near the oceans also indulge in fish, but not many partake of red meat.

  Hugo laughed. “No, it’s an expression. I’m just hoping I don’t regret saving her.”

  The dragon produced a chuckle that sounded forced. Your race has such peculiar phrases.

  He stood. The nausea didn’t return, but his legs did feel wobbly, like they’d fallen asleep. He wiggled and k
icked each to get blood circulating.

  Where are you going?

  “I need to see if my friends are okay.” He wanted to say ‘survive,’ but that just sounded too grim to voice aloud, even though he was thinking it.

  Hugo’s head was pounding. He massaged his brow and bit his lip.

  Silurf put a hand on his shoulder. It was firm but not scratchy or rough. You haven’t eaten in a day. We managed to magically hydrate you twice, but it’s still not as good as the real thing. You need to recharge. You need food and drink, and then your friends. I have my people scouring the woods for them. They will turn up.

  ****

  Hugo patted his stomach and belched. He stared at the two kind dragons who had delivered the three plates filled with such wonderful alien foods. All had been delicious, except for what had looked like some sort of blackened tentacles. He’d nibbled at one but had found it too rubbery for his taste.

  “Monu and Fiffla, that was simply scrumptious. You are fine chefs.”

  The twin sisters, both red dragons, had identical markings on their small wings and the same configuration of horns jutting up from their heads. Fiffla nodded and smiled while Mona frowned and scolded him.

  Mona’s thoughts were sharp. You ate too fast. My cuisine is to be savored. Are you ready for dessert?

  “I bet I set a world record.” He took a long drink of water and stood.

  Silurf approached, looking concerned.

  “I’ll have to pass on the dessert, but do save some for when I get back. That floating cream cake you talked up sounds amazing, Fiffla.” He smiled at the dragon.

  In response, she tilted her head in a bashful manner. Certainly, Hugo of the Hammersmiths.

  Hugo dashed toward the green dragon.

  “I’m ready to go.” Hugo paused. “Say, you have any weapons I might use? I feel a little underprepared here.”

  None small enough for you to wield. The dragon flexed his wings. They seemed small compared to the rest of him. They also appeared withered. He wished Lou and Nelson had told him more about their time spent with the dragons.

  Hugo said, “Why is your son missing his wings?”

  Baron Orb. The magic he took from us caused the next generation to be born without wings. Silurf tensed and then spun around. Come. We need to get you to your friends.