Dungeon Master

by Eric Vall

  “It certainly is,” I said as my eyes hovered over the sword’s intricately carved details. “Does it have a name?”

  “The shopkeeper said he wasn’t sure of its name,” Annalíse replied as she held her sword up proudly. “Surprising, since it’s such an impressive looking weapon. I’m sure it’s seen its fair share of battles.”

  “You will have to give it one then,” I said with a smile. “Such a prestigious blade deserves a name, a name that is worthy of its splendor.”

  “You’re right,” Annalíse said with a grin. She held her newly acquired weapon flat in her hands and studied it as she pondered a name. “How about Bloodscale?” She looked up at me with an excitement in her brown eyes.

  “I think that sounds perfect.” I nodded.

  “Then Bloodscale it is,” Annalíse said brightly, and she sheathed her sword as she turned to walk away. She paused for a moment and furrowed her brow as she looked into the back of the cart.

  “Is there something wrong?” I asked the freckled woman.

  “It’s the money. Even after I bought Bloodscale and the supplies, we have a lot left.” Annalíse gestured to the bags of money that were leftover from the purchases. “We can’t just leave it out in the open in the back of the cart.”

  “Put the bags up here with me,” Rana called out from the driver’s seat. “I’ll keep them safe.”

  “Yes, but they’d still be out in the open,” Annalíse mused. “I wish we had some sort of hiding place or secret compartment.”

  “Perhaps I can be of some assistance,” I spoke up. The two women turned to look at me curiously.

  “So what? you have a secret compartment or something?” Rana snorted.

  “No, I don’t,” I said with a shrug, “but I can create one.” Rana narrowed her eyes at Annalíse and me raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

  “How can you do that?” Annalíse asked slowly.

  “By creating a void pocket,” I said with a smile. “I can use magic to craft a pocket into which an infinite number of things can be placed. Anything I put into it would be completely concealed and untouchable by would-be thieves, and I can retrieve the items whenever I wish.” As I spoke, I stuffed my hand into the slit of my robe. Once it was inside, I spread my fingers apart to conjure up the void pocket, and I immediately felt the material that formed the bottom of my garment’s compartment fall away into the space that I had created. “Please hand me the bags of money.” I gestured to the sacks of currency.

  Annalíse hesitated for a moment and bit her lip but then she reached into the back of the cart and handed the money over to me. I widened the opening of my pocket with one hand and used the other to drop the bags inside. I felt no additional weight from the sudden presence of the money, as was another benefit of the void pocket. It didn’t matter how many items I added to it, the magic compartment would still be weightless.

  Annalíse and Rana gaped at me in surprise, and Annalíse walked over to peer into my pocket.

  “I don’t see anything,” she gasped when she looked inside.

  “That is another reason why the void pocket is so useful,” I explained. “The contents cannot be seen, it always appears to be nothing more than a mere empty pocket.”

  “Amazing,” Annalíse breathed. Rana grunted and turned to look away as though she were unimpressed, but I saw her look back out of the corner of her eye. “Wait, if you can’t see what the contents, how can you find what you need?” Annalíse tilted her head to one side.

  “I don’t need to be able to see them.” I shook my head. “I simply need to think about the object that I’d like to retrieve, form the picture in my mind, and the item will be in my grasp within moments.”

  “Fascinating,” the swordswoman mumbled as glanced at the pocket one more time. “That’ll do just fine.” She nodded as she turned to walk away once again.

  “Alright, everyone ready?” the tall warrior said as she took her place on Scylla’s back in front of Morrigan who was already seated.

  “Yep, all set back here. Minions away!” Carmedy yelled as she thrust her arm into the air. Morrigan turned and raised a white eyebrow while Rana grimaced and released an exaggerated groan. Annalíse chuckled at the cat’s outburst, and I too laughed at Carmedy’s enthusiasm.

  This was going to be a very interesting journey. We had a long trip ahead of us. There were many dungeons scattered across the various continents, and there was no telling how long it would take to reach each of them. Still, I would take advantage of our travel time and use it to begin molding each of the women into formidable warriors.

  My minions would be worthy of their master.

  Chapter 8

  As we made our way out of the city, the sights, smells, and sounds of civilization began to fade and were replaced by natural surroundings. We rode along in silence for a while, and I decided to take the opportunity to get to know my minions better. As their master, I felt it necessary to learn more about them so I could identify any other weaknesses they possessed. We hadn’t run into any trouble since the brigands back in the forest, but it was crucial that I started their training as soon as possible.

  “Carmedy?” I said to the small woman as we swayed back and forth atop Xerxes’ back.

  “Yes?” the cat turned to smile at me over her shoulder.

  “Would you mind telling me more about yourself? Where you’re from, and why you’re traveling?”

  “Aww gee, you want to know more about me?” she purred happily as her black ears twitched excitedly.

  “Yes, of course.” I nodded.

  “That’s so sweet!” The feline grinned and turned to face the oncoming road again. “Well, I come from a village on one of the smaller island continents. It’s pretty far from this one, about… a month’s journey by ship. It’s called Canarta, ever heard of it?” She turned her head slightly so that she could see me.

  “No, I’m afraid I haven’t.” I shook my head.

  “Don’t feel bad.” She waved her hand as she turned back around. “Most people haven’t. Like I said, it’s pretty small. Anyway, my continent is home to a community of pacifists that has been around for centuries. It might even be older than you,” she said with a giggle.

  “I doubt that,” I chuckled, “but please continue.”

  “As pacifists, we, of course, don’t believe in violence,” Carmedy said in a more serious tone. “Instead, we are influenced by the power of healing. On Canarta, our village is known for its healers and medicinal innovations. My people would rather save a life than take one, and every day we strive to find new ways to help those in need. We have found cures for many things. Everything from nasal congestion to some of the rarest diseases.”

  “I see,” I said softly. I now understood Carmedy’s reluctance to kill. I had thought that perhaps she was too afraid to fight, but that didn’t appear to be the case. She chose not to fight because it was against her beliefs.

  “My parents are two of the best healers in my community,” the cat-girl continued. “Before I was born, they discovered a cure for a disease that almost wiped out the whole village.”

  “That is incredible,” I said. “To have saved an entire village is no small feat.”

  “Yep! They’re pretty amazing,” the feline said cheerfully. “And they taught my two older brothers and me everything they know. Not to brag, but I’m pretty good myself. I’ve come up with a few inventions of my own,” she said proudly as she patted the pouches on the belt around her waist.

  “You have crafted medicines of your own design?” I asked as I studied the bundles. I hadn’t noticed before, but I now saw that the small pouches harbored stains of various colors, probably from medicinal ingredients. Patches of red, orange, yellow, and blue mixed with the fabric. I also noticed that the white peasant dress that she wore along with her green bodice had similar stains.

  “Yes, I have,” Carmedy beamed as she glanced at me quickly. “I improved the most commonly used rash cream, and I also have somet
hing to treat serious burns. Oh, and I have an elixir that will combat some pretty nasty poisons.” I could tell from the petite woman’s excited tone and the way that she rambled on that she was passionate about her craft and extremely proud of her achievements. She had good reason to be.

  I was surprised and admittedly impressed. I hadn’t expected the sweet but somewhat scatterbrained cat to be skilled in something such as medicine.

  “That is quite an accomplishment,” I said with a respectful smile.

  “Thanks!” Carmedy said brightly as the wind tousled her short black hair. The breeze had grown cooler, and the sun had begun to set. “I don’t have only medicines in here though,” the cat said in a sing-song voice. “I’ve got other stuff too.”

  “Is that so?” I raised an eyebrow. I recalled the pouches that she had thrown back in my dungeon. The first had been a mixture that had illuminated my dungeon with a brilliant blue light. The second had exploded upon impact, and the third had been some sort of harmful gas.

  “Uh-huh.” The feline nodded her head up and down. “If I were to mix a few of these bundles together, they’d go boom!” She made an explosive sound with her mouth and began to giggle. “The colors are really pretty, it’s dangerous though.”

  “I see,” I muttered. “If you don’t mind my asking, what was the concoction that you used on my goblin back at my dungeon?” I was dying to know. Carmedy’s scientific methods intrigued me.

  “Oh, that?” Carmedy turned slightly in her seat and wiggled her dark eyebrows mischievously. “I call that the crimson inferno. It’s a combination of ammonium nitrate, strontium oxalate, sulfuric acid, and some other fun stuff.” I didn’t know anything about the substances that she had rattled off. In fact, I had never heard of them before. I knew of foxglove, white willow bark, the use of leeches, and other things of that nature. Times had certainly changed. I didn’t understand her modern elements, but her name for the deadly potion made sense. My doomed goblin had been mercilessly swallowed by an eruption of scarlet flames.

  “I don’t like using my creations for violent purposes of course,” Carmedy continued. “I actually didn’t want to make the crimson inferno at all, but the other girls said I had to have something to defend myself. I hate to admit it, but it was kind of exciting when it exploded and burned that goblin. I always like to see my experiments at work. It was… exhilarating.” The cat took a deep breath of the cool air and released it slowly. “It feels wrong, but I still feel proud of my work. Do you think that’s bad?” Her voice had gradually decreased to a whisper. She turned to me with a perplexed look, and she bit her lip in anticipation of my answer. She truly wanted my approval. Better yet, she desired my guidance.

  I was quiet for a moment. I wanted to choose my words carefully. I didn’t want to frighten her, but I had to make her understand that combat was necessary sometimes.

  “You should never regret defending yourself,” I began slowly, “or those for whom you care about. And you have a right to revel in your triumphs. However, I do understand your feelings. Try to think of it this way, if someone wished to cause your companions harm, and you had to choose between fighting to save them or abstaining from violence, what would you do?” This was a rather difficult question to ask her, but I had no choice. This was the best way I could think of to make her understand the consequences of shying away from combat.

  Carmedy was silent for a moment. The moment turned into a few minutes, and I began to wonder if she would reply at all. But then she finally spoke.

  “I see what you mean.” The cat’s voice was barely audible. “If I had to choose, I’d choose to save them.” She gestured to the three women who rode in front of us. “I want to be the greatest healer the continents have ever seen. I want to help people and save lives, and that includes my friends. It’s just that… I, my people believe that all life is precious.”

  “Life is precious,” I said gently, “but there are those who think that no life is precious except their own. They do not care who their targets are or how many lives they take, and they take pleasure in preying on the helpless and innocent. Should such people be allowed to roam freely?”

  “You’re right.” Carmedy sighed, and her furry black ears drooped a bit. “People like that are dangerous, like those bandits in the woods.” The topic had shifted from the previously pleasant mood, and it was clear that the cat took no pleasure in it, so I decided to change the subject. I had gotten my point across and given her something to think about, this much was an improvement.

  “You forgot to tell me why you’re traveling,” I said pleasantly in an effort to lift her spirits.

  “Oh, yeah.” Carmedy’s cheer returned, and her ears perked up once more. “I just thought it would be fun to go on an adventure! I’ve never traveled much, and I’m always on the lookout for new or rare ingredients that will make better medicines. I figured that going dungeon conquering would let me do both at the same time. Many exotic plants and herbs are found only on certain continents. I can experiment as I travel and make my fortune along the way.”

  Hope and optimism dripped from her voice, and it was infectious. She was confident in her abilities, and I admired that. Excitement radiated from her as she chattered away about this herb and that elixir. I could feel her passion for the world of medicine in every word that she spoke.

  “I’m going to find every rare specimen that there is to find,” Carmedy said with determination. “And I’m going to use most of my share of the treasure to fund my research and build my very own hospital back on my continent.” The cat’s voice brimmed with tenacity. There was no doubt in her mind that she would accomplish what she had set out to do. “We’re all going to come away from this rich as kings, right, Rana?” Carmedy raised her voice so that the fox-eared woman that steered the donkey cart ahead of us could hear her.

  “What’s that?” Rana called over her shoulder. Her red curls bounced and swayed as the cart tottered across the uneven dirt road.

  “I said we’re going to be rich after all of this,” Carmedy said in a louder voice.

  “Ah, well, yeah that’s certainly the plan,” Rana said with a chuckle.

  “I was just telling Master about why I’m traveling,” Carmedy continued. Rana’s face soured at the word “Master,” but she made no verbal reference to the term.

  “Oh, you told him about your mission to save the world one herb at a time?” Rana tossed her bangs and gave the cat a wry grin.

  “It’s going to take more than herbs,” Carmedy groaned. “But yes.”

  “See, I’m not out here trying to save the world.” Rana waved her paw. “Too complicated. I’m in it for the treasure, simple as that. I’m going to buy a big house and fill up one of the rooms with gold and silver and dive into it every day,” the fox said as she gazed at the setting sun. “Once I get all that money, everything will be okay,” Rana whispered.

  Carmedy nodded her head. “Money isn’t everything. I know you’ll hate me for saying that.” She giggled “But it sure doesn’t hurt, and I do need it for my hospital.”

  But Rana no longer appeared to be listening to her feline companion. The fox looked off into the distance and seemed to be deep in thought. She almost looked sad. Why would she feel that way? The thought of riches was surely cause for a joyful mood. Instead, she stared at the natural surrounding before us, bathed in the pinks and oranges of the sinking sun. Carmedy looked at Rana for a moment curiously before she shrugged her shoulders and moved on with her conversation.

  “Hey Annalíse, why don’t you tell Master why you’re on this epic quest,” the cat called out cheerfully. Annalíse turned in her saddle to glance back at us for a moment before she turned to face forward again.

  “My sole mission in life is to become a great warrior.” Her tone was serious, and I could feel the determination in her voice. “I am simply here to claim the fame and glory that comes with having successfully conquered a dungeon, nothing more.”

  I waited quietly for t
he freckled woman to continue, but Annalíse didn’t bother to favor me with an extensive elaboration as Carmedy had. She resumed her ride in silence with her back perfectly straight and her head held high as though she rode atop the noblest of steeds.

  Her mission was an honorable venture. I had no doubts that the human female desired to be a great warrior. She carried her weapon with pride and kept it in pristine condition at all times, but I still didn’t fully believe that was her only reason for being on this journey. Her behavior back in the small town was still fresh in my mind, and it puzzled me.

  “So noble,” Carmedy said with a sigh. “Morrigan, it’s your turn,” the cat sang out.

  “I made a vow, and I must keep it,” the pale elf said while still facing forward. “This is my purpose for taking this journey.”

  She offered no more words, and as she rode along, she whispered something to each of her ravens and stroked their heads. I still found it odd that Morrigan preferred conversation with her pets over people since the conversations were one-sided, and it wasn’t as though they could speak to her. But who was I to judge? Perhaps the elf simply found comfort in confiding in them and didn’t need a verbal response.

  Unlike Annalíse, I had no doubts that the white-haired woman was telling the truth. However, her words had been terse and cryptic. What was the vow that she had made? Did it have something to do with her mage markings? I glanced at the red tattoos on her hand as she continued to pet her winged companions. I still found it strange that an elf possessed such markings. I would have to find time to speak to her privately about this, but I imagined that it would be difficult to get Morrigan to open up since she had only just met me.

  I could understand her caution. Both she and I seemed to share the belief that trust wasn’t something to be given out freely, it had to be earned. Like Rana, I would have to find a way to show that I was worth confiding in.