Ayann #1 A Fantasy Action Adventure- Part A- Broken Sword In Dragon Dungeon

by Kristie Lynn Higgins

  Chapter Four

  The Request For Help

  Before our group separated after we finished our exploits within Trak'Daron Keep, I placed an observant-eye spell on Foi our leader so I could keep tabs on the men. They can get into so much trouble when they're on their own. The observant-eye spell normally placed a non-corporeal eye the size of a melon over top of the head of the one the spell was cast on; it had tentacles like a jellyfish. The observant-eye can see everything within a fifty feet circumference even if a person or a wall was blocking its view. It could also peer into a person's soul and know what they were thinking if their emotions were strong enough. I had placed my observant-eye spell on Foi's shield so not to freak out any with magic abilities who might be able to see it whisking about. With it on Foi's shield, it was less conspicuous. I decided to take a look in on our other three members since I was trapped by Jisei spell. I melded minds with the observant-eye.

  Foi and the others had already arrived at their destination and were walking within the palace. Built atop a hill overlooking Lame Pony sat Duke Vindex and Duchess Delir's palace. Many royalty from the area were staying at the palace to attend the month long Freskada Festival that was held there every year. Crowds of people ate and drank around the lavish grounds. Music filled the air along with the scent of wine, beer, and cooked meats. Foi and the others of our party went to inquire of the Duke about a dangerous quest. A servant escorted them towards the throne room once they arrived, and many of the guests paused as they went by.

  “Who are they?” Duchess Delir asked Cassia her lady in waiting. She and Cassia were walking the opposite way towards the indoor gardens the palace was famous for. Delir commented, “I have never seen them before.”

  “I do not know for sure, my lady; perhaps they are the adventurers the Duke sent for to deal with your vexing problem.”

  Delir eyed the tallest of the three men. He was a light skinned human of the Lac Et La Foret Race. The Lac Et La Foret Race lived near the lakes of the forest and were strong in water and earth magic. He wore steel plate armor with the Paladin Crest of the Red Cross centered on his breastplate with two smaller crosses on each shoulder. He carried a large shield with the crest and had a long sword sheathed on his back. His blue-gray eyes were as staunch as his armor. His brown hair was kept very short and his face was shaven. He proudly walked, in total faith of the path before him.

  Delir said, “It would be a shame if that is the reason they came. I would hate a man as handsome as he to go without first visiting my bed chamber.”

  Cassia told her, “My lady, he is a Paladin of the Order of Bheidh. I doubt he would yield to your seductive charms.” She motioned to the other two men and then Cassia told her, “The barbarian and the archer would not have such qualms about you being a married woman.”

  Delir let her eyes lustfully wander over the scantily clad muscular human wielding a double-headed ax. He had sun-darken skin, blue eyes that were like cooling pools in the desert, wild blonde hair that flowed loose down his mid-back, and he had a scruffy face that she visualized scratching her smooth skin as he ravaged her all day long. He wore fur lined leather wrists guards, shin guards, and boots. His hairy chest was bare beneath a gray wolf-skin parka; he also wore a wolf-skin loincloth. Delir focused on him a few moments more till her sexual fantasies turned her attention to the man who was half Lac Et La Foret and half Woodland Elf. The archer had light brown skin that was a mark of his Woodland Elf heritage, a long black mustache she could twirl her finger around, and long black hair pulled back in beaded braids. His threads consisted of a dark green velvet vest, a light brown cotton shirt, and dark green cotton pants that the woodland elves usually wore. The only armor he wore was an armguard made of silver. He also wore a quiver on his back and carried a bow. The archer winked at her as they passed, and both Cassia and Delir giggled.

  I pulled from the melding for a moment as if I had to take a breath after diving deep within a lake. As I thought, the archer was already getting into trouble. Hopefully Foi could keep him from losing his head. I connected again with the observant-eye, and I was back within the Duchess' mind. I prayed she would journey out of my spell's range soon. I didn't like the way she was thinking.

  “As tempting as it would be to have them both in my bed tonight catering to my every whim–” Delir sighed and continued in the direction they had been walking. “–my husband has other plans for them.”

  A few moments later, Foi glanced back at the archer and warned, “Keep it in your pants while we are here. The Duke shall be our patron if we take this next quest. I would hate to upset him.”

  “Or lose our heads if he beds his wife or daughter,” Frieden the Barbarian said. “Remember the kingdom we were in four quests back? Amabilidad bedded the queen's daughter...”

  “Actually, I bedded the queen and her daughter,” Amabilidad boasted.

  Frieden angrily glanced at the archer as he spoke, “I still haven't forgiven you for that one. The only way the two of us could escape was by dressing up as women. Look at me, I make for a huge woman.”

  “And an ugly one,” Amabilidad added. “Now I looked good as a woman. I actually had a few men offer me gold to...”

  Frieden interrupted, “Now we can add whoring to your list of depravities. I don't know why Foi puts up with you.”

  “I'm his half-brother; he has to put up with the black sheep of the family.”

  I broke my connection with the observant-eye to deal with Jisei over another matter, and then I returned to the meld.

  The servant had showed them into the throne room, and the three men stood before the Duke. A few guards were positioned around the room as a maidservant carried a tray and offered a goblet of wine to her lord. He took it and then looked over the three adventurers. They were as he expected, and he grinned before taking a sip of the sweet product of his vineyard. There was one other servant in the room, and he held a platter of ribs of the giant boar native to the land. A new servant would come in every hour and trade places, bringing in a new type of meat around the clock during the Freskada Festival. A few dogs sat along the wall mindfully watching the platters of meat and hoping for guests to drop scraps of food.

  “Welcome adventurers to my kingdom,” Duke Vindex greeted as he wiped a bit of wine from the corner of his mouth. He was slightly over weight and advancing on middle age. “First let me say that I am impressed with your achievements and...”

  Foi interrupted, “If we could get right to the reason for you summoning us here, we can begin to solve your problem.”

  Duke Vindex laughed as he spoke, “I was told you are not one for chit-chat, paladin. By all means, to my problem then.” He vanquished his smile as his manner became grave and then he said, “A plague has come upon my kingdom. A malignant evil has invaded the peace of my realm. A creature known as a dragon-harpy has set up residence in an ancient dungeon keep fortress at the western edge of my domain and has ravaged the land, so much so, that she has raped it of life. The dragon-harpy is gathering an army to subdue my kingdom, and I want her stopped.”

  “An army?” the archer uttered and then glanced at his brother. “What could we do against an army?”

  “Yes,” Foi added. “You did not summon us to face an army. What do you need us for?”

  “The main fortress sets atop a vast catacombs that makes up the dungeon keep. It is supported by ten large columns. I need a small group to go in along with my necromancer and set up pyroworm nits.”

  The necromancer stepped forward, holding a staff in one hand and one of the pyroworm nits in the other. He wore a full length black robe trimmed in raven feathers and sandals.

  Amabilidad questioned, “Are those the teats?”

  “He said nits you lecherous ogre,” Frieden said. “Do you have nothing but breasts on your mind?”

  “The item he's holding does look like a round luscious...”

  “Amabilidad, if you
do not silence yourself right now, I shall tell Ayann you were the one who stole her sharpening stone,” Foi threatened.

  The archer exclaimed, “The one her father gave her that once belonged to her mother?! But she already beat a bridge troll nearly to death because she thought she saw it in his hand. The poor creature was merely holding a fire stone.” He gulped and then uttered, “Brother, you wouldn't.”

  “I would.”

  The archer's face paled, and he said no more.

  Foi stated, “Please continue Duke. There shall be no more interruptions.”

  “This is Lyge, my necromancer, and he is holding a pyroworm nit.”

  Lyge lifted the melon sized egg as he said, “The nit of the pyroworm is filled with an oil-like substance that when lit can burn through anything. I have placed a Chimera Tear in each of them that are magically linked to me and once we have set the nits and cleared the dungeon keep, I can detonate the nits all at once and destroy the columns and bring down the fortress.”

  “These are why I need your group,” Duke Vindex stated. “I want you to set up these powerful devices at each of the columns, then Lyge will set them off, and I will be rid of this monster that has turned my kingdom upside down.”

  Frieden spoke up, “I have never faced a dragon-harpy before. Come to think of it, I've never heard of her race. What can you tell me of her kind?”

  Amabilidad forgot about his brother's threat and added, “I also have never heard of such a creature. Does she look human? Is her form pleasing to the eyes?”

  “Get your mind out of the mire,” Frieden said. “The Duke speaks of a conquest dealing with steel and sweat, not a conquest in your bed.”

  “I was merely thinking it didn't matter how we defeated her as long as we did.” Amabilidad turned his attention to the two women that entered the throne room who they had passed earlier. He noted one of them was ogling him as a horned bear ogles a honeycomb. Amabilidad said, “But you may be right. Taking her head would be easier than...” He noticed his brother's unwavering look, remembered his warning about Ayann and her sharpening stone, and didn't finish his depraved sentence.

  “To your earlier question, barbarian and archer–” Duke Vindex started. “–she does look human and has led foolish men into her lair of deceit.”

  Delir continued into the throne room along with her lady in waiting as Delir questioned, “Are you speaking of our foolish son?”

  Delir grabbed a drumstick of a turkey as a new servant with a tray walked past them into the throne room. She took a few bites of the dark meat and then threw it to the floor for the dogs to fight over. The new servant took the place of the one with ribs, and the servant with ribs left the throne room. The Duke stood till his wife sat next to him. The lady in waiting stood with the male servant that had led the three adventurers to the throne room.

  Duke Vindex sat as he motioned to the Duchess and spoke, “Paladin Foi, this is my lovely wife, Delir. She is the gem of my eye and a woman of great virtue and charity.”

  Foi bowed to her and said, “It is an honor to meet you.”

  Delir questioned, “Are there only three in your group?”

  “No, there are two others.”

  “More men?” Delir inquired.

  “No, two other women.”

  “Oh.”

  “Do you wish to meet them?” Foi questioned her.

  “No, that is not needed. They must be very busy preparing for your next quest.”

  Amabilidad looked over the Duchess with wanting eyes as he asked, “Why did you mention your son?”

  “He has gone missing, and we fear the worse.” Delir removed a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed her eyes before saying, “If you find him in the dungeon keep fortress, perhaps you could return him to us. He is so missed.”

  “We will,” Frieden shouted as he smacked his chest with his fist. “If he is still alive, we'll rescue him from the vile monster and return him to you.”

  Delir looked to her husband as he looked at her then she faced the adventurers and said, “Thank you, thank you very much. I am not naive and know the chances of seeing him again are slim; if you cannot return him to us, at least obliterate the temptress who stole him from us.”

  Foi questioned, “Can you tell us a little more about what happened to your son?”

  “Yes,” Delir replied. “He and another group went to the dragon-harpy's dungeon keep fortress about five fortnights ago and have not been heard from since. He is most likely part of her fare.” She dabbed the handkerchief to her eyes again as she sniffed. “My poor foolish son. He should have listened to us.”

  Duke Vindex reached over and tapped her hand with his as he said, “There... There... He still may return.”

  “Do you have a map of the area we shall be going in?” Foi asked.

  “Yes,” Duke Vindex replied as he leaned over the throne and grabbed a small bag and a few parchments. “It is here along with partial payment.”

  The man servant stepped forward, Duke Vindex handed them to him, and the man servant walked over and handed them to the paladin.

  “Is there anything else you require?” Duke Vindex questioned.

  “No, and we shall take our leave now,” Foi answered, turned, and headed out of the throne room. The archer, the barbarian, and the necromancer followed, and they entered the main hall.

  I broke my connection with the observant-eye for Jisei and I waited for Foi and the others outside the throne room. I had given in to Jisei's demands, told her what she wanted to hear, and was back on my feet. I wasn't happy.

  Foi eyed me with a vexed look once they came out of the throne room, and then he asked me, “Why are you covered in mud?”

  I held myself as if the mud was still wet and dripping from me and started to reply, “That would be because...”

  Jisei interrupted me, “That would be because she cannot follow simple instructions and her new sword pierced my cocoon, slicing it open.”

  “Pierced?! Sliced?!” I uttered. “It popped, and I went splat to the street. People thought I was a loosed pig because I was so covered with mud. And–” I glared at the priestess as I said, “–my sword was still in its sheath. I believe you're the one who popped the cocoon!” I peered down at myself and muttered, “I need a bath.”

  “I have been telling you that for days,” Jisei added. “But you would not even listen then.”

  I ignored her and kept talking, “Foi, can I...”

  He raised his hand, silencing me and questioned the priestess, “Is it true she bought a new sword?”

  I pointed at the priestess and then to myself as I asked, “Why are you asking her? I'm right here!”

  “Quiet!” Foi ordered and then asked, “Jisei, did she?”

  “Yes, shidesha, she bought one and a throwing ax.”

  The barbarian perked up at the mention of the weapon. He glanced at me, and I smirked back at him before I turned my attention back to Foi. The paladin noticed my smirk, so I quickly vanquished it.

  “Ayann, I am very disappointed,” Foi said. “You did not need another weapon. For penance, you shall not bathe until our latest venture is done.”

  “Foi!” I yelled and then complained, “That's not fair! The mud stinks, it's caked all over my body, and–” I scratched my face. “–it's making me itch!”

  “This is your penance! Accept it and accept it in silence!” Foi commanded.

  I folded my arms and muttered, “Self-righteous pompous troll's arse! Why are you always making me do penance?”

  Foi ignored me, faced the others, and commanded, “Let us go.” He continued on and one by one everyone started to follow.

  As the others walked on leaving me behind standing there like a punished child, Lyge tilted his wooden staff, halted the archer, then leaned to him, and commented, “Was not the paladin a little hard on the valkyrie?”

  Amabilidad laughed as he answered, “Not in the least. If Foi did
n't keep her reined in, she would run around like a wild child.”

  The necromancer moved his staff and the two men walked on. I started after them in a pouting march, then I gave Amabilidad a good glare as I walked around him and the necromancer. The archer gulped as he caught my besieging eye, swarming with reminders of earlier retaliations. I turned my attention forward and soon I relinquished my march to a steady walk and then a carefree skip. Moments later in my mind, all was forgotten and forgiven, and I went and wrapped my arm around Foi's. He looked to me and smiled slightly.

  Lyge said, “They are very chummy.”

  “You could say that,” Amabilidad stated. “They're engaged to marry this Kryo Season.”

  “Those two?” Lyge uttered. “They are like fire and ice.”

  “I know, but they make it work. Foi doesn't show it, but he deeply loves Ayann, and she loves him most of all.”

  “Most of all?” Lyge questioned.

  Amabilidad walked a little ahead, then stopped, and said, “You might see a battle harden valkyrie before you, but you'll come to find that Ayann's a very loving person.”

  Lyge also stopped and inquired, “How do you know?”

  “Because she loves a womanizing rogue like me.”

  Lyge looked to the valkyrie and then back to the archer. “So she has no qualms whom she beds?”

  “You are confused my friend,” Amabilidad said and then started after the group. “Her affection is from the heart, not from the loins.”

  Soon we left the castle and rode to our covered wagon we had left in the care of a stable that was above the rain plain of the region. Jisei loaded our newly bought supplies in the wagon as I showed the barbarian the throwing ax I purchased for him. I still scratched at the mud caked on my face and arms, groaning over the penance the self-righteous pompous troll's arse of a paladin gave me.

  “This is a fine wood-elf blade,” I told Frieden as I smoothed my hand over the small ax. “It flies true, and I have imbued it with a fortified speed spell. All you have to do is wear its sheath in your belt and you'll feel as though you're passing the wind.”

  Amabilidad helped Jisei load the supplies as he made the comment, “You shouldn't have done that. The barbarian passes wind enough to kill a horde of trolls.”

  “Funny coming from a man who smells of harlots,” Frieden growled.

  “What? I can't help that they like to hang all over me,” Amabilidad said. “I'm a very attractive male, unlike most of their clientele. At least I get to bed them while you stand in a corner all doe-eyed and tongue-tied, hoping your barbarian physique will subdue them. You do know you have to come out from behind your mother's apron and shield if you want the girls to notice you.”

  Frieden barked, “Shut it! You're jealous because Ayann bought me a gift.”

  “Actually–” I started as I reached into my bag. “–I did buy Amabi a silver arrow for his quiver, in case we run into any more specters.”

  Frieden laughed, mocking the archer, “That's right! Amabilidad was covered in ectoplasm after Ayann exploded it with her Fotia Fire. You glowed for a week after that.”

  Amabilidad shook his head and spoke, “Please don't remind me. I still find bits of it in my hair.”

  “Everyone prepare,” Foi commanded, breaking up the discussion. “We set out in ten minutes and shall travel until we reach Dead Stump Ridge that overlooks the Brahaigne Valley and there make camp. We shall make our plans there, get a good night's rest, and then set our plan into action on the morrow.”