Dungeon Master

by Eric Vall

  Luke sniffed with an annoyed expression on his face but turned to go, and his brothers jogged to join him. The group of men moved toward the section of forest in the direction of the sun. As they began to weave through the wooden giants, Luke turned back to look at my minions and me.

  “It won’t take us long to deal with you,” he said with a sinister smile. “You’ll all be dead before nightfall. I’ll be gracious with you three.” He pointed to Annalíse, Carmedy, and Morrigan. “But you two,” he turned his finger toward Rana and me, “I’m going to take my time on you two.” He threw his head back and cackled, and with that, he disappeared into the forest with his brothers.

  “I know we get more points for not killing to get the tokens, but can we please kill Luke?” Rana asked with a scowl. “I think we’d all sleep a lot better knowing that his ugly face isn’t around.”

  “I would enjoy that greatly,” I said with a note of anger in my voice, but I pushed the majority of my fury deep down inside me. “However, decisions fueled by rage often end badly. We need to clear our minds and come up with a strategy.”

  “Ugh, you sound like a fortune teller.” Rana wrinkled her nose, “but fine. What’s the plan?”

  Before I could reply, Annalíse decided to chime in.

  “I have formed a strategy,” Annalíse said with the utmost confidence. The rest of us turned to look at her in disbelief.

  “You have formed a strategy in such a short amount of time?” Morrigan raised a white eyebrow.

  “Yes, I have,” Annalíse said proudly and folded her arms over her chest.

  “How could you have possibly determined a course of action so swiftly?” Morrigan said unfeelingly. “Whatever plan you have concocted is surely flawed.”

  I didn’t think Morrigan was trying to be unkind, she was trying to make sure that we had a well thought out and efficient plan. She had every right to be concerned, I too had my doubts.

  Annalíse bristled at the pale elf’s comment. “I’m a quick thinker,” the swordswoman said through pursed lips.

  “Why don’t we simply hear what Annalíse has come up with?” I commented before an argument commenced. Morrigan shrugged, and I gestured for Annalíse to speak.

  “Thank you.” Annalíse gave me a grateful smile. “Here’s what I was thinking. First, we have to get to our starting point, after that we obviously have to figure out what their location is.”

  “Right,” Rana urged her to continue.

  “So, we’ll spread out and find them,” Annalíse said excitedly. “Whoever figures out where the Bardens are will signal the rest of us, and we’ll gather at their location. Then we’ll rush them.”

  “Um, I don’t think--” Rana began, but Annalíse continued to speak so the red-headed woman frowned and closed her mouth.

  “I’ll take Luke, Rana, you take the short one, Carmedy, you deal with the tall scrawny one, and you two, handle the twins.” Annalíse pointed to Morrigan and I. “Once we have the upper hand, we’ll steal their tokens. Everybody got it?” Annalíse put her hands on her hips and looked at each of us with a determined expression. Without a doubt, the swordswoman was confident that her plan would prove to be successful.

  The rest of us exchanged concerned glances. While I admired Annalíse’s confidence, Morrigan had been correct. The female warrior’s plan was extremely flawed.

  “Blue team, you may now make your way to your starting point,” the deep-voiced god suddenly called out to us. “Try to stay alive. Personally, I hope you win. Firstly, because I’ve grown quite tired of all this, and secondly, because those men on the other team are so irksome. Especially the one with the scar.”

  “Don’t worry.” Rana waved her paw carelessly. “We’ll take care of them.” Annalíse began to walk quickly in the direction that the Barden brothers had taken.

  “Should we really be going this way?” Carmedy whispered to Rana as the rest of us followed behind Annalíse.

  “No, we shouldn’t actually,” Rana said under her breath. “Hey Annalíse,” the fox woman raised her voice so that the swordswoman could hear her. “Don’t you think we should take a different route?”

  “The Bardens went this way, so that’s where we’re going,” Annalíse said simply.

  “Okay, yeah, I know that’s where they went,” Rana said slowly. “Is that the only reason you have for going this way? If it is, it’s not a very good one.” Rana huffed as she jogged to catch up to the female warrior, a difficult task because Annalíse took such long strides.

  “If we go in the direction that they went, we’ll find them quicker,” Annalíse said as she navigated her way through the trees.

  “Not necessarily,” Rana said as she hopped over a bush that stood in her way. “We have no way of knowing if and when they changed direction, so right now we’re wandering aimlessly. Not the best plan of action.”

  “We’ll find them,” Annalíse said determinedly. “I can feel it in my gut.”

  “Rana is correct in her thinking,” Morrigan interjected. “It would be unwise to make assumptions based on, as you say, gut feelings.”

  “Of course, I’m right.” Rana shrugged. “Now here’s what I’m thinking. We change course by, oh, ten degrees due north.” She waved her arm to indicate her proposed direction. “Once the challenge officially starts, Morrigan can use Fea and Macha to scout around and figure out where those Barden buffoons are.” The fox-eared woman pronounced the name Barden with clear anger in her voice. “Then Morrigan will send one raven back to you guys, and she and I will rendezvous with the other one at our enemy’s location.”

  “What then?” Carmedy cocked her head to the side as she stepped around a large rock.

  “Morrigan and I will spy on them and see what they’re working with,” Rana continued. “You know, what weapons and any supplies they have on them, stuff like that. I’ll try to find an opening to steal some of their weapons and essentials. Once we’re ready, Morrigan can do her creepy talking raven trick to guide you to us. We’ll use the ravens again to set up a formation to surround them and then we’ll close in on them and rob them blind.” Rana rubbed her hands together giddily. “And once we have all their tokens, we can enjoy giving Luke a very slow and painful death.”

  “That sounds like a good plan to me,” Carmedy said chipperly.

  “I agree,” Morrigan nodded.

  I too was pleased with Rana’s strategy. It was sound and had the minimum risk. Annalíse, however, didn’t appear to be so impressed and continued to trudge forward in the same direction.

  “I appreciate the effort, Rana, but your plan will take far too long to carry out,” Annalíse said as she wove through the thickly wooded area. “Who knows how long all of that will take? Several hours probably. I’m sorry, but the best strategy is to find them, rush them, and be done with it.”

  Annalíse’s impatience had struck again. She seemed to have a bad habit of assuming that the quickest methods were always the best methods, and she was sorely mistaken. While swift attacks certainly had their place in combat, some situations called for carefully thought out strategy, and this was one of them.

  Morrigan, Carmedy, and I gave each other doubtful glances. I knew that Annalíse wasn’t going to back down. She had been outvoted back at the labyrinth in the previous dungeon, and I was certain that she was eager to prove that she was capable of leading us and coming up with a solid plan. While I knew that her plan was flawed, I decided to allow her to carry it out. Today, she would witness firsthand the consequences of her impulsive nature. That was the best way I knew how to begin molding her into a true warrior.

  “Annalíse, you can’t be serious.” Rana blinked at the swordswoman in disbelief. “That plan is going to get us all killed.”

  “I’m very serious,” Annalíse said as she forged ahead. “There’s nothing wrong with my plan. Have you forgotten what happened back at the tavern? We didn’t even use our weapons, and we were able to handle them easily. This will be no different. I have
no doubts that we’ll be able to take their tokens without issue.”

  “Oh for the love of--” Rana breathed impatiently and her tail swished in annoyance. “Okay, yeah, we were able to beat them before. I’m not arguing with that, but you also have to keep in mind that we were at a tavern.” Rana emphasized the last word. “They had been drinking. You don’t know what they’re capable of sober. Even without that, it’s still crazy to just rush ahead like this.”

  “Do you have so little confidence in your own abilities, Rana?” Annalíse asked a little sharply and looked over her shoulder at the fox woman. “And ours as well?”

  “Of course not.” Rana groaned. “We’re more than capable of taking those thugs on, but that doesn’t mean we should make rash decisions.”

  “I suggest that you reconsider, Annalíse,” Morrigan said. “Even the most skilled of warriors can be overcome if they are unprepared, and we keep running into situations where Master has to save us.”

  “Master?” Rana groaned as she looked at the pale-skinned elf with the red tattoos. “Not you too. When did you start calling him that?”

  “It does not matter,” Morrigan replied coldly. “He is my master, and Annalíse’s plan will no doubt end with him saving us. Again.”

  “Yeah,” Carmedy said with an uncomfortable expression. “I’m not so sure about this, Annalíse. It sounds kinda risky.”

  Annalíse sighed in annoyance and opened her mouth to retort, but I spoke before she could.

  “You four are my minions,” I stated as I looked at the four women. “I have taken a step back from my normal leadership role that each of you may have the chance to learn, grow, and become more powerful. The most powerful gods always have the best minions, and since I am the most powerful of the deities cast from the heavens, it is important to me that you four become skilled.”

  “What does this have to do with the pl--” Rana started to say, but I interrupted her by pointing at Annalíse.

  “The warrior often leads adventuring parties, since she is the one in front. I will let you craft the plan for the encounter with our opponents, but I strongly suggest that you listen to my other minions for advice.”

  “I don’t need to,” Annalíse said as she crossed her arms. “I know this is the correct decision.”

  “Then you will be responsible for all the consequences,” I said. “Either negative or positive. If we win, it will be because of your plan, but if we lose, and one or more of us dies, it will be because of the decision you made. Do you still wish to proceed without listening to Rana, Carmedy, and Morrigan?”

  “Yes,” Annalíse hissed as her nose scrunched up. “I’m the leader and the warrior. I know what is right for us.”

  “But your plan is so fricken stupi--” Rana started to say, but I cut her off with a motion of my hand in the air.

  “We will go with Annalíse’s plan,” I said.

  Morrigan and Carmedy looked at me in disbelief while Rana stared at me as though a second head had sprouted from my shoulders. Annalíse gave me a look of surprise and nodded her head in thanks.

  “Have you lost your mind?” Rana shrieked.

  “Not at all,” I said calmly. “I am your master, and I will have the final say. Annalíse is confident with her plan so we will follow it.”

  “You can’t even call that a plan, though,” Rana whined. “It’s lunacy.”

  “I understand your concerns,” I said firmly, “but I’ve made my decision to support her plan, and my decision is final. There is an important lesson you all will experience in this trial, and there will be no more discussion on the matter, is that clear?”

  Annalíse looked at me in surprise. She hadn’t expected me to support her, and from the look on their faces neither had Carmedy and Morrigan.

  Rana scrunched her nose and pinched her lips together tightly. I didn’t want to argue with her since I agreed with her wholeheartedly. However, I didn’t have time to explain my reasons for supporting Annalíse to her. Furthermore, I didn’t have to. I was the master, and she was the minion.

  “Fine, we’ll do Annalíse’s plan.” Rana finally sighed and shrugged her shoulders, but I could tell from the defiant look in her eyes that her opinion hadn’t changed. She knew that there was no use arguing with me though. “When this whole thing crashes and burns, and we all die, I’ll try not to say I told you so. Oh, wait.” The red-haired woman tapped her chin. “I won’t be able to say I told you so because I’ll be dead.”

  “No one is going to die, Rana,” Annalíse scoffed.

  The fox-tailed female sighed and then shook her head at me. “Yeah, I’m not so sure about that.”

  Chapter 24

  Our party continued on through the forest with Annalíse in the lead. All the while, Rana mumbled to herself. I couldn’t hear everything that the fox said, but I caught snippets of her hushed protests. I heard words such as ridiculous, insane, bloodbath, and massacre. Carmedy and Morrigan walked in silence, but I could tell from their expressions that they were just as displeased.

  Truthfully, they had nothing to fear. I wouldn’t allow things to escalate to the bloodbath that Rana had grumbled about. I knew that things were going to go badly, that much was certain. There were far too many holes in Annalíse’s plan. The human warrior was impatient and lacked training in battle strategy, and her hastily thrown together strategy was proof of that.

  Not only that, the swordswoman’s strategy risked a full-out battle and would surely result in many casualties on both sides. Members of our party would lose their lives, and we would most likely end up having to fight the dungeon’s deity. Flawed as it was, I would allow her to carry out her plan, but only to a certain point. When the chaos began, Annalíse would see that she had been wrong. I, of course, would step in before things got too ugly.

  The lesson was two-fold. First, I wanted Annalíse to see her faulty plan unfold so that she would understand her error. Second, she needed to know that I was powerful, her master, and I always would protect her.

  Our group soon reached a small stream that ran between the towering trees.

  “We’ll stop here,” Annalíse called back to the rest of us as she halted in front of the stream. “Everyone clear on what to do?” The swordswoman looked at each of us. Carmedy and Morrigan gave her very reluctant nods.

  “I believe so,” I said evenly.

  Rana didn’t respond and instead silently furrowed her brow and folded her arms over her chest as she looked off to the side.

  “Rana?” Annalíse said impatiently. “Are you clear?”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m clear,” Rana mumbled without looking at the tall warrior.

  “Good,” Annalíse said.

  “Both teams have now reached their starting points,” the booming voice of the dungeon’s deity suddenly said. “You may now begin the challenge.”

  “Okay, everyone spread out between these two points.” Annalíse gestured to two trees that were approximately fifty yards apart. “If you come across the enemy team, signal with a whistle like this.” The freckled woman parted her lips and demonstrated.

  “Understood.” I nodded, but none of the other members of our party made any such movement or verbal confirmation. The other women looked concerned, and I couldn’t blame them. The plan would indeed fail.

  “Alright, let’s get going,” Annalíse said as she crossed over the stream to move further into the woods.

  The rest of us spread out between the two points that she had indicated. Annalíse took the middle position while Carmedy and Morrigan fanned out to the left and Rana and I moved to cover the right side.

  Annalíse’s strategy immediately began to show its flaws. This was too wide an area for us to successfully cover, and we were much too spread out. This combined with the density of the woods made it nearly impossible for us to see the other members of our party.

  I was able to make out Rana a few yards to my right, but that was only because of her red hair, and I was unable to see any of the ot
hers. Not only that, we were vulnerable to attacks because there was no way that we could cover all of our blind spots. It wouldn’t take long for this situation to turn sour, but unbeknownst to my minions, I decided to summon a few shadow slaves to stand by to ensure everyone’s safety. If the situation got too dangerous, it wouldn’t be difficult for me to help all of my minions all at once.

  I walked along in silence for quite some time. I detected no suspicious sounds and observed no movement up ahead. Suddenly, I heard a low whistle, and I turned my head in the direction where I had heard it, from somewhere to my left. That was the signal that someone in our group had discovered the Bardens’ location. I heard the whistle once more, and I headed toward the sound. Annalíse had been right about one thing, taking the route that she had suggested had led to our finding the brothers quickly. I only hoped that the men wouldn’t figure out where the whistle had come from and start to attack before we regrouped.

  Just then I heard the sound of rustling leaves somewhere behind me. Had the band of brothers split up? Had some of them managed to sneak up behind me? I paused and slowly turned around in preparation of an attack, but only sighed in relief, it was only Rana. Evidently, she had attempted to step over a bush, and one of her bare fox feet had brushed against it.

  “I guess someone found them,” Rana said as she jogged to catch up with me. Then we heard the signal sound yet again. We were heading in the right direction.

  “It would seem so,” I said as we hurried through the forest. I still found it mildly unsettling that the woods in this dungeon were so quiet. It seemed… unnatural. The lack of wildlife sounds did make it easier to detect oncoming enemies, but it was nonetheless strange.

  It took Rana and me several minutes, but we finally found Annalíse, Morrigan, and Carmedy crouched behind some shrubbery. Rana and I knelt down to join them.

  “They’re right over there,” Annalíse whispered and nodded her head to the direction to our right. “Carmedy spotted them. They’re all together.”