by Adam Witcher
“Saldana, meet Aerin and Rhotha,” said Isaac, feeling his face flush. “My… uh, companions.”
“I’d say we’re a little more than that,” Rhotha said.
“Pleasure to meet you both,” Saldana said with a bow. “Isaac, I must compliment the beauty of your... companions. You two are most enticing.”
“You aren’t too hard on the eyes, either, Saldana.” Rhotha slipped a hand to Isaac’s thigh. Aerin matched her on the other side. He felt himself stirring but tried to stay focused.
“Uh, Saldana,” he said, clearing his throat. “Mayor Hector—Aerin’s father by the way—got some gems before us. I’m under the impression he got them for Scorpius.”
The goddess’s face fell.
“Oh dear,” she said. “That is bad news, indeed.”
“I thought they could just summon weapons. Could Scorpius use them to help merge dimensions somehow? Aerin asked, removing her hand from Isaac’s thigh.
“The gems can do much more than summon weapons,” she replied. “They are powerful, much more so than I can even understand. They are the mineralized remains of the Delmians, a magical race that walked this planet many years before humans, elves, or any other race that now calls this place home. It is said that they were overtaken by a powerful fungus, which drove them insane and consolidated their power into minerals.”
Isaac thought of Garramuch and wondered how long until he’d be consumed by the fungus. He shuddered at the elf’s final words: You’ll be back.
“So what does Scorpius want with them?” he asked.
“He must have used them to open those portals,” she said, her eyes drifting downward. “With those gems, he must no longer require his follower’s help. I fear that he is using the power of the gems to merge the two dimensions without the help of anyone here. I suspect it's only a matter of time. I am afraid that if you wish to stop him, you’ll need to travel to Tenebromar and stop him there.”
Isaac sighed.
“I was afraid of that,” he said. “Things didn’t go so well the first time.”
“On the contrary, Isaac,” Saldana said. “Had you not entered Tenebromar the first time, you would not have met me, nor would you have obtained my dagger and become my devotary. And I would say that you fared much better than the others who were taken there.”
Isaac shrugged. She had a point.
“If we’re going marching in there, we need to know how to use bound weapons. Can you teach us?”
“There isn’t much to teach,” Saldana said. “Hold a gem in your hand, close your eyes, and envision the weapon you desire. When you open your eyes, it should form in your hand. I cannot be sure, but I believe you can use a large gem several times before it is depleted. Small ones are good for one use. And of course, you can use them to charge your dagger should murder become distasteful.”
Isaac felt a sudden surge of confidence. He stood, took a few paces backward, and held out the gem. For a few seconds, he debated what weapon he should choose. A sword? A warhammer like Rhotha’s? He recalled stumbling across an archery range a few years back, where a kind woman invited him to try his hand at shooting. He’d done well. She was very impressed considering it was his first time. And a ranged weapon ought to come in handy. He envisioned a bow, pictured the contours of its wood and string. The women gasped. He opened his eyes and found that he was holding a glowing, ethereal bow. He reached over his shoulder and grabbed a ghostly arrow from the quiver at his back and strung it. Despite its ghostly appearance, it felt completely real.”
“Well done,” Saldana said.
“Incredible,” said Rhotha.
Aerin only stared, open-mouthed.
“Try it,” he said to Rhotha.
She stood and cast aside her warhammer, which clunked to the ground. Grabbing a gem from the pile, she closed her eyes. The room suddenly filled with blinding light, and when Isaac’s vision returned to normal, Rhotha carried a bright blue battleaxe. She grinned when she opened her eyes, gave it a few swings.
“It’s so light,” she said. “I won’t even need an enchantment to hold it. Aerin, you try.”
“I only use weapons of the mind,” she replied. “Mages don’t use physical attacks.”
“You might change your mind when you get rushed by an interdimensional demon,” said Isaac.
“Fine,” she said, scowling. She grabbed a gem, closed her eyes, and there was another flash. She held a jagged dagger in each hand. Despite her reluctance, she smiled as she twirled them through the air and jabbed at nothing.
“You all catch on quickly,” Saldana said.
“We can’t go to Tenebromar yet, though,” Isaac said. “He’s got five talismans. And at least one of them is in our realm.”
“Five talismans?” Saldana asked. “My gods, Scorpius will stop at nothing. Gods, to split one’s soul so many times.” She shuddered. “If that’s true, you must find and destroy the talismans first.”
“That’s a bit of a problem,” said Isaac. “We think his followers have them, but we don’t know where they are.”
“Hmm, perhaps, with the power you’ve given me through that phantasm gem, I can locate the nearest one. Give me a moment to concentrate.”
Saldana closed her eyes and stood motionless for several long seconds.
“I’m detecting the faint trace of one in Avalour,” she said. “But I can’t quite pinpoint it. I will need to meditate first. I only need a short amount of time, perhaps an hour, but I can find them for you. And now that you have access to bound weapons, you will be able to destroy the piece of Scorpius’s soul. Farewell for now. I shall be back soon.”
With that, the portal disappeared, and the mortals were alone again. All three were high on excitement and newfound powers. But what to do to kill an hour?
“Have you two seen my bedroom yet?” he asked.
The ladies grinned.
Almost an hour later, the three were naked and intertwined in each other’s arms. Pieces of armor and clothes were strewn about Isaac’s floor. He laid in the middle of his bed with a happy woman tucked into each arm. A brief respite of paradise.
On a table across the room, Saldana’s dagger buzzed. He grabbed it, then returned to bed, where he cut an opening to Saldana’s realm. The goddess grinned sheepishly when she saw them.
“Ah, to be a creature of flesh,” she said. “The mischief I could get into with you all.” She shook her head and sighed. “Anyway, I’ve located the piece of soul.”
“And?” Isaac asked, willing himself not to think too much about Saldana’s wistful desires.
“Whoever has it is in Avalour Penitentiary,” she said. “I’m afraid that’s all I can tell you.”
“Damn,” Isaac said. He was afraid of that.
Avalour Penitentiary was, as far as he knew, impenetrable. He’d had the unfortunate luck of spending a couple nights there once, but he’d only been to the temporary cell. The rest of the prison was supposed to be incredibly secure.
“I’m afraid I cannot stay,” Saldana said. “I must replenish my magic. Good luck to you. When you find the prisoner and destroy the talisman, we will speak again.”
The portal faded into the room, and they were alone again.
“Well,” Isaac said. “Guess we’re going to prison. I always hoped I’d never have to do that again.”
16
Avalour Penitentiary sat atop a massive hill on the southwestern edge of the city. Isaac had seen it many times while out on his swindles, but he’d only been inside once. The city planners positioned it to be visible from at least a few spots in each district, a constant reminder to anyone considering breaking the law of what awaited them. He usually scoffed at it, even after the time he got nicked for pickpocketing. That was when he was brand new to thieving; It wouldn’t happen again. But now, as he gazed up at its massive, dark grey facade, it looked more intimidating than usual.
The structure was a nearly perfect cube—not even windows disturbed its uniformity. There was only a sing
le door at its base. A courtyard sprawled beyond it, bare ground where the prisoners could escape the cube occasionally for recreational time, though there wasn’t anything for them to do out there. A barbed wire fence kept them from escaping. A pathway led to the entrance, partitioning the yard into a broken square so that visitors or new prisoners could walk along the fence line and get jeered at by inmates on their way inside.
Beyond the prison, the landscape stretched into a barren wasteland that served as an ideal backdrop before rising into mountains in the distance. Isaac wondered how often prisoners gazed at those mountains and longed for them.
They strode along the path toward the entrance, palms sweating, hearts beating quickly. A few inmates milled about in the yard absentmindedly, but none paid them any attention beyond a few sidelong glances. All of them were elves, some looking bright-faced enough to suggest they hadn’t been there long. Plain grey robes on each blurred distinction between the rich and poor. Isaac scanned the faces, but he recognized none from his moment of near-death. The culprit must be inside.
He wondered what happened to the human inmates. Even if their blood was considered clean, some had surely still committed crimes worthy of punishment.
Two burly guards were stationed at the front entrance, decked out in steel armor, helmets and all. They held battleaxes and slouched against the walls of the entrance.
“So what the hell are we supposed to tell them?” asked Rhotha. “We’re here to visit an inmate but we don’t know their name or crime?”
“Their crime is in being an elf,” Isaac said. “But just let us do the talking. Aerin and I can be very persuasive.”
“Stop,” one guard said at their approach. “State your business.”
“We’re here to see an inmate.” Isaac did his best to sound confident.
“For what purpose?”
“I’m a shopkeeper in Homoken,” he said. “This elf is a city official, but he’s also a thieving thug. For the last year, he’s come to my shop every week demanding protection money, threatening me and providing nothing in return. I’m seeking retribution.”
“Inmate’s name?” the other guard asked.
“I don’t know it,” Isaac said. “He never gave it to me. Just showed the mayor’s badge.”
“And you believed him?” the first guard chuckled.
Isaac gritted his teeth.
“As I’ve said, I come seeking retribution.”
“If he’s here, he’s got no money.” Both guards chuckled to themselves.
Isaac eyed the men, their slack attention, their casual attitudes. An idea took root in his mind.
“I’ve come seeking a more physical type of revenge.”
Though their faces weren’t visible, Isaac could sense them smiling beneath their helmets.
“Well why didn’t you say so, friend? The only good elf is a dead one.”
They stood aside and gestured toward the inside. Without speaking, Isaac and the ladies went inside. Once they were through the door and out of earshot, Rhotha rushed up and whispered loudly into his ear.
“Did they just let us in to kill a random inmate? Holy hell, this city is more badass than I thought.”
“The guards are former prisoners,” he whispered back. “I remember a few of them. We just have to speak their language.”
“Former inmates? Did the other humans just lock up a bunch of elves and leave these idiots in charge?”
“Don’t question it,” he told her. “This could make things easier.”
The prison’s inside matched its drab exterior. Grey walls. White floors and ceilings. A hallway led them to a desk, where a bored-looking man propped his feet while he snacked on a plate of roasted meat. He wore a set of light armor, but his sword and helmet were cast aside. A pendant hung around his neck like a medal. Grease coated his fingers. He turned and stared at Isaac, sizing him up. When he noticed Rhotha and Aerin, though, his demeanor lightened.
“Well, well, aren’t you two awfully pretty for a prison,” he said, then turned back to Isaac. “How much for a night with those two?”
“Not—” Aerin put a hand on Isaac’s shoulder and cut him off.
“Let me take this one.”
She sauntered to the front desk and leaned over it. The man strained his neck for a look down her shirt and made no attempt to hide it.
“You think you could handle us, big boy?” she purred.
“The question is, can you handle me?” He leaned back in his chair and laughed.
“Hmm,” she said, “I guess we’ll find out. My friend here is going to go talk to a prisoner, then Rhotha and I are gonna take you somewhere private and rock your world.”
“Uh—” Rhotha protested, but Isaac cut her off.
“Give her a second,” he whispered. “She’s messing with him.”
The man raised his eyebrows. Isaac grinned at the sight of Aerin’s glowing hand behind her. The guard stood up, trembling with excitement. Aerin stepped toward him and put a hand to his shoulder. He puckered up and leaned in, but Aerin jerked backward.
“Wait a minute,” she said. “This can’t be right.”
“What’s that, love?”
“You, you aren’t attracted to women, are you?”
“What?” The man recoiled, his face contorted in horror. “Course I am. Nothing warms my blood like a woman’s soft touch.”
“Yet I’m sensing you haven’t been with one in a long time.”
“I, well, it’s just that I used to be imprisoned and—”
“Ah, I see now, you’re gay.”
He gasped.
“How dare you, woman!” he shoved her backward lightly. “I’m… I love women. Breasts and such.”
His anger gave way to confusion.
“And yet you can’t stop thinking about other men,” she said. “You crave the rough caress of masculine hands. I know you have feelings for those guards out there. They’re fighting it too. Go to them. Tell them how you feel.”
“I… I…” Tears formed in the man’s eyes. “I’m so confused!”
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. They’re waiting for you, for another man’s touch.”
“I… I’m going to go and tell them how I feel. I deserve true love.”
Without hesitation, he started to run down the hallway. Rhotha stopped him along the way.
“Easy there, lover boy. Where can we find the other prisoners?”
“Second floor,” the man said impatiently. “Up the stairs further along the hallway. Here, take this badge.” He handed her the pendant. “Now get out of my way, I have feelings to confess!”
With that, he rushed out to the guards. Isaac, Aerin, and Rhotha all burst out laughing. It didn’t take long for an argument to break out outside.
“You are getting far too powerful,” said Isaac. “You’d better not be playing mind games on us.”
“Gods, no.” She grinned. “I don’t need magic to manipulate you two.”
Isaac and Rhotha shared a look and shrugged. She wasn’t wrong.
Shouts echoed from outside. The argument was getting heated.
“Let’s leave before the orgy breaks out.” Rhotha rushed them toward the staircase just as metal clanked and the fight got physical. Isaac silently wished them well and hoped their love would blossom.
They ascended the spartan staircase and opened another door to reveal a wide, flat expanse of empty floor. Prison cells lined the walls, all of them small and empty beyond their sad and bored looking occupants. Three guards sat around a table in the middle, leaned back with their feet propped up. They held half-drunk glasses of ale, and a tapped keg sat beside them. Red faces giggled. One noticed their entrance, but he didn’t seem to care. He took another sip and turned back to his friends.
They hesitantly approached the table. Rhotha held up the badge. The men, looking more annoyed than suspicious, finally gave them their attention.
“We’re here to speak to a prisoner,” said Isaac. “We’r
e authorized by this badge.”
“And we’re here to get drunk and mess about,” said one, imitating Isaac’s voice like an automaton. “We’re authorized by nothing.”
The three guards howled with laughter. One of them banged his fist against the table. Isaac turned back to Aerin and Rhotha.
“Well, damn,” he said. “They could have at least made this a challenge.”
“Hey, I’ll take drunk idiots over bloodthirsty monsters any day,” Rhotha said. “Let’s find our guy before they sober up and start caring.”
The guards continued to laugh as Isaac went to the cells and examined the inmates one by one. Most of them paid him little mind. Dirty hair, tattered rags, sunken faces. The elves looked utterly defeated. They likely had no delusions that some visiting humans would help their situation.
He almost walked right by a familiar face.
Edwin hardly looked like himself. Beneath stringy dark hair and a sallow expression was the face of man just as broken as any of the others. He leaned against a back corner of his cell, motionless. The moment he saw Isaac, though, he sprung to life.
The elf’s eyes lit up and he jumped to his feet. He ran to the front of the cell and gripped the bars.
“Isaac, oh my gods, Isaac, what are you doing here? Holy hell, it’s good to see you.”
“Shh, buddy, it’s good to see you too, but you’ve got to keep your voice down. I don’t want them getting suspicious.”
Edwin eyes the ladies behind him and grinned.
“I see you’ve been keeping good company,” he tried to nudge Isaac with his elbow, but the bars got in the way. “I know it’s hard to fill the aching void I left in your life, but I admit, this is a respectable attempt.”
“Umm,” Rhotha said. “Is this your guy? If so, less talking, more talisman destroying please.”
Edwin took a step back.
“Beautiful and vicious, quite a combination.”
“No, no,” Isaac told her. “Edwin is a friend.”
He introduced Edwin to the ladies and vice versa, then told Edwin the short version of their adventures for the past few days.
“We looked for you, man,” Isaac said. “I thought you got pulled into one of those portals. What happened?”