Our door was opened and we spilled out of the small compartment. A physical silver was pulled out from a pocket and the driver nodded his head in thanks. We left him for a guard station that stood before an elevator that went down. The grumpy orc challenged us before we were even close enough to hand off our paperwork.
“Paperwork and hurry with it. I ain’t got all night,” the orc grumbled.
There were many smart-ass things I wanted to say to him. I held them in check while Ovaria produced our documents. He grunted in response but said nothing. We were allowed past and the elevator door opened. As we entered he finally spoke.
“Tenth layer and then turn right,” the orc said.
Ovaria slid the gate to the lift closed and I used the hand crank to rapidly descend us. The whole contraption was in desperate need of oil; it creaked and groaned the whole way down as we jerked lower into the planet with each rotation of the wheel. Every dozen feet or so we passed a number until I saw a ten and halted us. The door was pulled open and we stepped off the elevator. A natural lift propelled it up high again almost as if it were loaded on a spring.
We found ourselves in tunnels with burning torches on the wall every fifty feet or so. Where the city had been odorless the smell down here was awful. There was a mix of nasty odors assaulting my nose and I decided it was best to try to ignore them. We turned right and started walking down the rectangular hallway. There were cells in here on the left that were narrow but so deep you could not see them ending. Each prison section had double barred gates you could see past with locks on the exterior. I saw the first container had goblins and there must have been a hundred thousand as they were packed in so tight I doubted there was room to sit as they were all standing.
This was the darker side of slavery for certain. I doubted these goblins had performed some evil to get themselves locked into a crowded cage. I sighed as I moved past them and saw loincloth wearing humans speaking a language I did not recognize. They were almost all male and covered in swirling blue tattoos. I was shocked to see them all with weapons of various varieties. I was missing something if slaves were holding weapons. I got little reaction from the humans as we shifted to the next cell.
Well, these were most definitely my slaves. Behind these gated bars was the cacophony of snoring dwarves. I had no idea how I had not heard the drowning roar of them sleeping earlier but it was thunderous in the narrow hallway cell they slept in. Those I could see were geared in armored kilts and plated tunics. I raised an eyebrow at noticing they were in a color scheme of black and gold. They were Wargs troops before but why gear his slaves so lavishly. They also were well fed and apparently getting plenty of rest.
“Get me whoever is in charge,” I said seeing a dwarf eyeing me from a lookout position.
He was about to tell me to get lost when he spied Nicole and Zoey. That did the trick for him and I watched him fade deep down the corridor. Five minutes later a grumpy dwarf appeared in only an under kilt. He had thick braids of orange hair and a neatly trimmed short beard with what looked like black hair tied into it to create dozens of bearded ponytails. His upper torso was chiseled with muscles and he had numerous scars over his body.
“Warg send ya?” the dwarf asked as he scratched his ass.
I grabbed the paper that Ovaria was still holding in her hand and the dwarf accepted it. A quick study of the document and he handed it back. I went to rip the document up when Ovaria and the dwarf both lunged at me to stop. I raised an eyebrow in confusion.
“Ripping that document up prevents us from ever being free. If Warg did not send you, then who? Because no way an agent of his would destroy a slave contract.”
“Introductions first it seems will help. I am Gryff, Lily’s champion from home,” I said and the reaction was instant.
The dwarf dropped to his knees in a prayer of thanks to the retreating four. I heard the chainsaw of snores fade as hushed whispers echoed in the cell. The dwarf that was kneeling got up and whispered into another dwarf’s ear.
“I am Groz and I take it yer here to try to save us. Warg has a soft spot for dwarves. The problem is we are first generation dvaren from Prox and that means we are in essence cursed in certain eyes. We went from a starving band of dvaren from random planets feeling dissolute to having hope. Of all people to show up and offer aid… Well, we never expected that help to come from Warg, the god of war himself. We went from starving to having full bellies. From poorly equipped to the best we could wear on short notice. He had grand plans to win this tournament and to add us to his TruthSayer company,” Groz said with a pause as he put his head against the metal bars. “Warg helped us advance with win after win. We started with ten thousand and dwindled to six after our first two arena matches. He back filled his troops to bolster our numbers and we slaughtered the next three armies until the enemy caught on and started forfeiting. Normally these arena matches are not proxy wars. The format is too small and the value too little.”
I knew I was missing a key element here so I paused him.
“Groz, as your owner can I not just take you out of here to my...?” I let the question hang because I did not know how best to term Remi and Thur.
“We are contract bound by our original owner for ten matches or until the tournament ends. We have one match left to go and while you can surrender, please don’t. A forfeit would only reset our contract to the next tournament.”
“So you are locked into a round robin event and you have one more left to go. That can't be too bad?” I said with a goofy grin at the good news.
The dwarfs were waking up massed in their numbers and joined us at the front. Groz gave a long eh… while giving a deflated sigh.
“If only it were that simple. Warg was forced to secede all TruthSayers from the field for the next match. In a few hours, we have to face an Inquisitor fielded army and Warg predicted that some would be ascended in the mix. The way he explained it was odd and in the end I understood his rankings and friendships put him in a bind. They want us dead and this is their best chance. He was strong armed into giving us up. It appears he may have found a work around.”
Zoey paced and Nicole listened intently. Ovaria was zoned out and I was trying to piece together how to approach this situation.
“So Warg joined you after he bought your contract. What is this place and how does it work?” I asked.
“I can only speak for the Zoon Coliseum since that is where we are. The rules are simple: you bring a slave army of ten thousand citizens or less. I am a slave citizen but still a citizen. We fight for ten battles. If we win our slave owner gets a prize and we get free of the arena. So there is a low entry cost and then the cost of us slaves. From what I encountered in our opponents is that the other slaves are from other universes. My hypothesis was confirmed by Warg himself.
“As I mentioned, once we were bought by Warg he filled our ranks to equate our numbers back to ten thousand. I say this twice because none of the other armies we faced did this. Probably because the grand prize is not worth the additional slave. I honestly don't know but we expect to face ten thousand and high-level citizens in a few hours. I do know what paperwork Warg was forced to sign ensuring he would not support us in the last battle. He did give us some really good armor and weapons. Not to downplay Wargs capabilities but the god was a mess around me. Emotionally a wreck. He kept sending that kitsune away and he would cry about the glory days of warring against my long dead ancestors. I think he secretly misses Prox. I let him vent all he wanted to because he was giving us a real solid chance of surviving. Something no one else had offered. That is until you arrived.”
“Show me your level,” I asked.
“No orbs and only a twelve. Warg explained the system but we have been fighting other level ones so far,” Groz said while showing me his number on his wrist.
“What do you recommend?” I asked Ovaria while I frowned.
She laughed and shrugged at my dumb question.
&
nbsp; Groz snapped a finger. “We were given very powerful bolt casters. Warg said if we focused our fire we could dismantle the shields of a single god. We dvaren are not going down without a fight.”
“Okay, I will do what I can. Hopefully, since there is no chance Warg should be attending they will only have basic troops. I need to find us a pilot for our exfil and then I will figure out how to get onto the battlefield with you.”
“I know that one. To join our team just wait here with us with that paper before the match. That was what Warg did every time. He lined his troops up down the hallway,” Groz said and pointed down to the left.
“Do you need anything?” I asked before we left.
“Three thousand more troops,” a dwarf behind Groz said and there was laughter.
“I am not flowing with coins but I will see what I can do. I doubt anyone would hire on with us if they knew who we were fighting.”
“You can buy more slaves. Not like they have a choice about who they fight anyway.”
I hung my head in sorrow as Groz said those words. There was little else for me to do besides to move forward. I would find a pilot, try to increase my slave numbers, and then get back to Thur. There was no way I would have any problems with this monumental task.
CHAPTER 20
We ran up ten flights of stairs located beside the elevator. I had no idea how to get the lift to come down and was not willing to wait so up we went. While I bounded the stairs two or three at a time I stewed on what to do. If I went for a pilot I could be losing out on buying slaves. If I bought slaves I might miss a pilot. The more important issue was did I want to deal in slaves again? I had promised myself while I was enslaved in purgatory that no, I did not. I could free some beings though, which had always been a soul-fulfilling process.
Before I knew it, I was still undecided and in the fresh night air not far from the disgruntled orc guard. He huffed at my sight and I contemplated killing him to relieve some of my frustrations. Nicole tapped me on my shoulder and we walked out into the cobbled street that was nearly empty. The nautical twilight of the rising sun gave breath to the new day.
A wagon was rolling by that Zoey flagged down. The man grinned while missing teeth and I immediately felt my senses giving warning signs. So did Zoey as she waved him on.
“That man freaked me out, it is as if he wanted to take us to a dark alley,” Nicole said echoing our sentiments.
I snapped at Nicole, “Spawn your chest. Let us get our weapons out.”
We thanked Nicole and I felt better being armed. The girls certainly looked happier and Zoey had pulled out the necromancy staff and I was yet again mesmerized by its intricacies.
“Nicole, should we buy slaves to bolster our numbers or hire a pilot first?” I asked and when she went to answer Ovaria interrupted her.
“Neither is my vote. You should go to the local orb market right over there that is within running distance and pick up a necro orb at first light. The wagons will be of more repute by the time you finish and then flag a carriage to take us to hire a pilot. If there is enough time to buy some backfill slaves we do so,” Ovaria said. “You are not getting off this planet with those dwarves without a pilot. Not with these funds anyway. It would cost a fortune to send them to Thur via the portal guild.”
Zoey picked up the pace and we jogged a few blocks away from the colosseum to a three story section of town. The buildings went from storage warehouses to all sorts of general market stores and specific shops. I saw ones for familiars and another for mounts. A chipper looking goblin was opening up his exquisite store while sipping a steamy liquid. The smile on his face combined with the timing was perfect. I crossed the cobbled street and opened the door to a ringing bell.
“Good morning fine sir!” I said in a joyful tone.
“Bit early for cheer is it not?” The goblin quipped with a small smirk.
“We happen to be early risers on a mission. I hope that you can gladly take our coin in fair trade and if not help us acquire a ride that will not try to kill us,” I said as the girls flowed in behind me.
The store was mostly orbs on shelves and unlike the others I had been in, it was not readily organized. Each orb had a specific title. I had a feeling the rows upon rows of aisles were more or less for you to get lost in while browsing and less about efficiency. After a second look at the goblin, I was fairly certain my assumption was spot on.
The goblin was four feet tall with a monocle over his eye. I wondered if it was a status thing or did the immunity potions not fix eyesight. He was studying a tome that was laid out on the counter that must have weighed as much as the lithe green shop owner.
“These streets are dangerous at night, not nearly what they used to be. Some say the City of Keys was once a majestic place of wealth. Now we hold the most controversial arena matches on Uzah. I try to avoid my inner gambling habits and stick to family matters while running this shop. My daughter married a gnome and the grandkids are worth the hazards in my book. Ha, no pun intended,” The goblin loudly closed the book he was reading with that statement. “What can I help you with since you seem lost?”
“Necromancy orbs…”
I was halted from uttering another syllable as the goblin shot up and over the counter in an impressive maneuver. His eyes glazed over as he put his face inches from the stave that Zoey held. He drooled over the miniature bodies fighting to free themselves of the weapon and was sliding his head up and down its length as he absorbed the detail. There was labored breathing until finally he recovered and stepped back.
“By the creator, in all my years. Never... I will only say this once. Do not walk with that out in the open around here. Not ever if you want to not fight against every mage you come across,” the goblin huffed and then slowed his rapid rambling. “How did you get it?”
“A friend gifted it to us in exchange for introducing him to the creator’s right-hand creature,” I said with a snicker.
“Fuck off!” he exclaimed and Zoey laughed at his outburst.
The comment was quirky coming from the goblin.
“I actually believe you somehow. She has one too and I have no idea who you are. I follow the tournament circuits since most of my business comes from the coliseum.”
“We need to help the dvaren fighting today,” I said with a smile. “I am Gryff nice to meet you.”
“Eddy and those dwarves are doomed. No one is betting on them and the odds are so long even I am interested in taking a desperation bet. The Inquisitors stacked the deck against them so heavily the Justicars are going to be sitting this one out. They originally signed a treaty to work together to rid the master verse of the last Prox survivors. Some lesser company bowed out as competition and now it is a sure thing. At least they think it is.”
The goblin left us and went to the back of the store. He paced back and forth while biting his nails. I could hear him mumbling about something.
“Is he talking to himself?” Zoey said and Nicole pinched her softly.
Zoey understood the rationale of letting him work out his issues. We embarked on browsing his wares while he fumed. Half a minute later he returned with a determined expression.
“I have an offer. I also have a problem but you are the solution as well. You cannot wager on yourself. How certain are you of winning?” Eddy the goblin asked.
“There are so many variables I cannot answer. The Justicars are the elites which means the Inquisitors are the massive army and I could be facing an overwhelming number of lowbie mages. Then again I have zero knowledge of what will actually face me and the dvaren. What is the other army?” I asked and Eddy tossed his frail arms into the air.
“Insectoid ground swarmers called tyranids that have lethal acid bile they can spew hundreds of feet. Your dwarves could probably beat them in a stand up even fight. Especially if they have the same crossbows as they did in match five. You are right about one thing. Even me, who has been following the matches canno
t ascertain what you will face in addition to the standard foes. If I load you up with orbs and then you lose, I lose everything. How many coins do you have?” Eddy said with a huff of frustration.
The goblin was near a panic attack, chewing on his nails. Ovaria stepped forward and calmed him.
“We need to buy slaves to bolster the army. There is a barium in coins at most total including what I can loan,” Ovaria said to the goblin.
The pacing repeated as Eddy rambled his calculations. There was frustration that included a lot of grumbling. My patience was starting to wear thin.
“Eddy that sun is rising and we need to go. I would like a sword and shield orb if you have one and a necromancy orb if you can. Then I would like to place a bet on me winning through you,” I said to him.
“I finally got out of debt. Lozila will flipping kill me. Do you have anything you can leave behind as collateral?” Eddy asked.
“We came here in a rush. How about you tell me what you are wanting to do? I have a lot more funds on Thur, but that needs to get sold and then deposited.”
He paused me.
“Perfect, that changes everything. You do realize all the banks are linked across the universe? We go all-in on this. You give me a promissory note that will go against those funds. If you die then I can collect on the funds owed. I am going to lend you a platinum and another two in orbs. I want as much back as you can give me at the end in a note.”
I sputtered my lips and wiggled my eyebrows. This one baffled me.
“I do not get it. What is the plan?”
“We rig the game so your team wins,” Eddy said and my confused expression must not have shifted because he stared at me then sighed. “You will buy the most expensive slaves and I will give your girl there some good orbs. Then we use your money and my money to wager heavily on you to win. There are open books like crazy right now, and if you do not know what that means may the creator save you. I will have to use middle runners for most of the betting. Follow me Mrs. Red eyes.”
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