by Robert York
“Would you like to do a bit of shopping while I deliver this to The Laughing Goblin?” I asked.
Tilly turned a little red, head bowed, never making eye contact with me. His fingers nervously picked at the straps on the leather bag.
“Yes Master... But I can wait until you have finished.” He said.
I placed a hand on his shoulder smiling.
“I think I can manage the drop off. Why don’t you go deck yourself out with a new suit of clothes and whatever else you will need,”
Tilly raised his eyes to mine returning the smile.
“Who knows, you might find a nice plump Elf woman to have a drink with.” I said giving him a knowing wink.
Tilly’s cheeks colored.
“Thank you Master!” he said in a jubilant tone.
He turned hurrying into Craven’s past a pair of witches lugging a heavy cracked cauldron. I watched the door close. I stood, feeling the weight of the bag I carried over my shoulder. I felt utterly alone at that moment. Another totally irrational feeling I know, but real nevertheless.
I turned heading for The Laughing Goblin. I hoped Reb was expecting me. I scanned nervously from left to right as I went. I felt eyes watching me though I never saw anyone looking in my direction. It’s funny in a way in which people; left to their own thoughts can make themselves frightened over nothing. How a person can see Boogeyman around every corner or hear sounds that really aren’t there. I’m usually not someone who panics or gets scared easily, I have a pretty rational mind for danger. There are really only two responses to have, fight or flight. Now that I think about it there are three. There are the two I already mentioned and there’s also being scared stiff. Sometimes a person’s wiring shorts out and they just don’t react at all. I tend to fight more than I flee. Call it tenacity or just being plain stubborn. So whenever I venture out I always try to prepare for any situation I may encounter and there is absolutely nothing wrong with being cautious or over thinking things. Cleaning out Brood Worm tanks can sort of prepare you for situations that would make anyone afraid.
I walked a casual yet brisk pace attempting not to draw attention to myself. I still couldn’t shake this feeling that I was being watched. I guess I’ll have to chock this up to a healthy case of paranoia. I made my way past the two witches struggling to get their cauldron through the door at Tebron’s Blacksmith Shop. In the reflection of Tebron’s storefront window, I saw a man of average height, stocky, dressed in a leather jacket with black wavy hair walking along with me on the opposite side of the street observing me intently. I stopped abruptly turning to confront the man so interested in me. I had a spell ready and a hand on one of my Colt pistols incase his intentions were less than cordial. When my eyes came to the spot where I thought he was standing, there was nothing. He was gone. I looked up and down the street not seeing him in either direction. I had to get to the Laughing Goblin and give this crown to Reb Ironbolt.
I turned heading for Reb’s place, moving faster now. I was about fifteen feet away from the cross streets when a large stone disc rolled out of a small alley between two shops ahead of me on the left side. The disk was a little bit bigger than a manhole cover, three inches thick with what looked like complex designs chiseled into the stone. The disk was moving too fast for me to determine what the markings were, given how my day had gone so far I knew this couldn’t be good. The disc’s progress slowed as it intersected my position. I watched the damned thing stupidly instead of running away like a normal sane person. It came to a stop teetered for a moment then fell backward down onto the cobblestone surface with a deafening stone on stone thud.
Great, I thought, Round Two has just begun. If things like this keep up I’m going to have to invest in a good cutman.
Chapter 9
Iretreated a few steps, not exactly sure what to make of it. A green bolt of lightning shot down from one of the chandeliers striking the stone disc dead center. I perceived around me that the street had quickly and quietly cleared. I could feel many sets of eyes, which were peering out at me from the safety of the now closed shops. I think I even heard locks being turned and bolts being slid into place. There was an eardrum-bursting crack of sound and then the lightning bolt was gone. In front of me on the stone disk stood a figure well over six feet tall dressed in black flowing robes which moved without the assistance of any wind. The black cloth flowed around him like motes of dark smoke. The figure’s face was concealed by a silver Janus Mask made to represent a drawn angry tragic face. In the figure’s hand rested a gnarled Wizard’s staff. From the alley that the stone disc rolled emerged four pale figures dressed in plain unremarkable dark suits, dark glasses covering their eyes. If I had to guess I’d say these four were Vampires and the guy holding the staff was a Wizard. Where’s Captain Obvious when you need him? I really need to start listening to my paranoia.
The four Vampires filed in behind the tall Wizard spreading out two on each side. My left hand disappeared inside my coat withdrawing one of the Colt pistols. I flexed my right hand. My six-inch wand popped out on a spring mechanism, my hand closing around it. Behind me I heard the scuff of shoes on the stone street. I glanced to my rear spying three more individuals looking almost exactly like the other four suit-clad men. I added up the numbers arrayed against me, seven Vampires and one Wizard. I turned my body slightly so that should they attack, I could let loose at least two spells before I got the hell out of the way. I kept my eye on the tall Wizard.
“Give me what you carry boy and you will leave this place alive,” the tall Wizard said hissing his words.
My heart beat faster now steadily moving up into my throat. I needed something to drink, my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth and my throat was dry. - Why is it you get thirsty when you get into a scary situation? Makes no sense to me. - If I kept him talking long enough the Dwarf guards or Baugrun might get here in the next few seconds. The place wasn’t that big so I had a good chance of getting some help.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but if I don’t deliver this box in the next thirty minutes or less I won’t get paid and I really need the money. Do you know how much a delivery boy like me makes?”
The tall Wizard raised his staff, smiting the end on the stone street. At the place his staff hit the ground a wave of energy surged out from that point spreading into a wide cone under the cobblestone causing the stones to fly up a few inches as though there were something traveling under them. On instinct, I raised my right hand making a horizontal slash at the street a foot or two in front of the wave heading toward me. A large gash appeared in the street ten feet long and six-inches wide. The cone of energy hit my line of defense creating a minor explosion, which caused stone fragments to fly everywhere, striking the stores, the ceiling and a few even hit a chandelier or two. The blast was directed up and away from me, which surprised me and I think the look on my face may have reflected that. My spells aren’t normally as focused as that. They’re solid yet crude, Barnabas always said my control would come to me as I practiced and got older. The spell was only meant to counter the power sent at me and not to deflect any solid objects.
I heard the three Vampires behind me rush headlong toward me. Turning my attention to them, I raised my Colt leveling it at the nearest one firing two shots rapidly. The Vampire bobbed and weaved eluding the bullets. Overhead I saw movement. Dark shapes hurdling down on top of the Vampires from the shop rooftops. Three large Wolves the size of small horses, two dark brown in color and one a silver gray collided with the oncoming Vampires tearing into them as they slammed the bloodsuckers into the ground. The attack was swift and a complete surprise. It was a gruesome struggle and the Vampires gave as good as they got, however the Werewolves and their ability to heal were too much for them to over come and were losing the fight and their lives.
I turned back to the tall Wizard and the other four Vampires, figuring that my rear was covered - go ahead, you can make a joke if you’d like – I saw two more Werewolves plowing into the t
wo Vampires on the left side of the street dragging them down. The tall Wizard’s attention was fixed on me; he dipped his head casting a spell. The two remaining Vampires were nearly upon me. From the side street at my right a huge black and grey creature barreled into my oncoming attackers closing its massive jaws around the torso of one and knocking the other into a stone bench fifteen feet away. The beast thrashed its massive head violently from left to right. The head and arms of the Vampire went flying in one direction and his legs went flying in another. The part remaining in the creature’s mouth was swallowed in one gulp. The beast turned heading for the Vampire that he knocked into the bench.
It was Naga Baugrun’s pet Gog. For those of you unfamiliar with a Gog, they’re a reptilian-like creature, which are twice the size of a Siberian tiger. Gogs have thick powerful bodies and walk on four equally powerful legs, balanced by a thick muscular tail about five feet long. The head of a Gog is long and quite large, almost like an animal straight from the Jurassic era and filled with two rows of long sharp dagger-like teeth. Naga’s sudden appearance startled the tall Wizard. He didn’t see Baugrun, the Watcher rushing in from behind, his sword raised high above his head. He used a small wooden cart laden with fruits and vegetables as a springboard vaulting in the air, leaping toward the tall Wizard’s back, his sword cleaving down in a two handed attack.
At the last second the tall Wizard whirled round bringing his staff up defensively. Baugrun’s sword struck a mighty blow on the staff; white dazzling sparks erupted from both wood and steel. The tall Wizard turned in a half circle pulling an eight-inch blade from a hidden pocket in his robes thrusting it at Baugrun’s rib cage. The Watcher deflected the blade’s thrust with his steel wrist bracer. Following through the movement, Baugrun grasped the tall man’s wrist twisting it until the blade fell harmlessly to the street. The tall Wizard shrieked in pain, kicking at Baugrun’s chest causing him to release his wrist. The Watcher retreated a few feet. This gave the tall Wizard an opportunity that he may have been hoping for, because Baugrun seemed to be more than a match for him in physical combat. The tall Wizard smote the end of his staff on the street; using that end he drew a circle around himself roughly forty-eight inches in diameter. Wherever the end of the staff touched it erupted into a line of white-hot fire encircling him. When the circle was closed, a column of fire exploded upward from within engulfing the tall Wizard in flames that felt as hot as a blast furnace. The column of fire rose up from the street. I lifted my arm shielding my face. I followed it up rising to the ceiling passing right through the stone. The fire continued until it had entirely passed out of sight. All that remained was a glowing spot of red-hot stone in the street. My eyes returned to the scene around me. Baugrun knelt beside the stone disk examining it by prodding the disk with the tip of his sword. After a few short moments it seemed he was completely satisfied with his investigation. Baugrun lifted his sword bringing the heavy handle end down onto the center of the stone breaking it into three pieces. There was a small pop of an explosion when the spell had been broken.
I holstered my pistol getting to my feet. Baugrun stood sauntering over to me wiping blood from his sword. Baugrun stood about my height, but was more muscular. He wore form fitting dark green leather pants and coat. Worn over those were his plain black mail and armor. His dark brown hair fell to his shoulders and he had a short well-groomed beard and mustache. Baugrun is a confident and rugged individual sort of like a Medieval Marlboro Man. He gave me a wide smile as he sheathed his sword. Baugrun stopped a short distance away from me.
“Greetings Solomon are you unharmed,” he asked in a deep baritone voice.
“Yes,” I replied. “No worse for ware.”
“That is well,”
I looked around the carnage then back to Baugrun.
“What happened to the Dwarf security?” I asked.
Baugrun’s smile faded.
“Killed by these Vampire scum. Those at the Main Door took three of them before they were overwhelmed,” he answered in a somber tone. “They were all good fighters and good friends. It’s fortunate we had Werewolves in such numbers here today otherwise the day would’ve been lost, don’t you think?” He asked.
It’s very unusual for Werewolves especially five of them to be in Stumpwater’s at the same time, a rare sight to say the least. When werewolves get together in larger numbers a contest for dominance always breaks out, it’s only a matter of time. So the Werewolves adhered to a strict policy of keeping their numbers to no more than two or three at a time when in Stumpwater’s. The fact that five were here at one time meant only a few things. One, there was a rogue pack that didn’t care about the rules. Two, the Wolves knew something was going to happen and the Vampires were likely to be behind it and Werewolves couldn’t pass up a chance to kill their mortal enemies. Or the third option, which meant that five Werewolves showed up here coincidentally taking advantage of the fact that at least seven Vampires were inside Stumpwater’s doing a bit more than shopping.
Yeah, I don’t believe the third option either.
“How did the Vampires and that Wizard get in here past the arches?” I asked.
Baugrun pondered the question. It may have been my imagination, but it appeared as though he was considering my role in this attack and if I could be trusted with whatever information he told me. After a short pause he spoke.
“I am not sure Solomon... Vampires cannot enter Stumpwater’s without help. Just before the attacks happened I was called to the storerooms. Three Elves were found dead beside a stone similar to that one,” he said gesturing to the now broken disk.
“They are called hopping stones and they are the work of Dark Elves.”
“Dark Elves,” I asked.
I honestly didn’t know much about them. They were something Barnabas never touched on in my studies. I’ve heard stories, mostly rumors about them over the years. What I knew wasn’t encouraging. Where the High and Wood Elves were good and kind the Dark Elves were evil and hate filled. Dark Elves have appeared in small groups through out history, by small groups I mean no more that five or ten. Man hasn’t seen them in great numbers for a hundred or so years and no one has sought them out. Some say they can be found in swamps where most of the unpleasant things of the world seem to live and thrive. You hear stories on occasion of people disappearing in swamps. How many times have you heard the phrase, “The swamp just swallowed them up.” If the Dark Elves decided to make an appearance now that didn’t bode well for humanity. Imagine the plague of the Black Death and World War Two combined.
When I came out of my musings Baugrun’s eyes were fixed on me in a way that might suggest I were under suspicion. I didn’t want to be thought of as a co-conspirator with the Vampires, however this wasn’t the time or the place to be telling him everything. There was really only one thing that I could say that would ease Baugrun’s mind. After all, these Vampires were after the crown and my being here was possibly the reason those brave Dwarves lost their lives. I owed it to them and Baugrun not to keep secrets.
“Sir Baugrun,” I began.
“I haven’t the time nor is this the place to tell you of my involvement regarding the events that have happened here today. Know that I wasn’t part of their scheme, but the victim. Grim Jack knows all and should you have any questions I would ask him.”
At that Baugrun’s eyes shot up in surprise. The Watcher nodded in understanding. Naga lumbered over to me, dark blood stained his teeth and muzzle. Given the fullness of his belly it looked as though he’d cleaned up his messes and then some. His massive body collided with mine nearly knocking me on my ass rubbing up against me affectionately. I smiled patting his rough scaly back and sides. He let out a deep chested rumble that would’ve made a passable “purr” if Naga happened to have been an idling Peterbilt truck.
“He remembers you Solomon,” Baugrun said gratified.
“Few carry such favor with Naga, you should feel honored.”
“Believe me Sir Baugrun I
do,”
Right then something occurred to me. I searched around the area finding what I was looking for, one of the Vampire bodies. Bobum said that he; Tish and Earl found a mark on one of the Familiars casing the Magic Shop. I had a hunch that one or if not all these Vampires were marked. There were very few “Independent” Vampires running around these days.
I walked over to one of the Vampire bodies that hadn’t been completely ravaged by either the Werewolves or Naga. The one I chose was pretty badly chewed by one of the Werewolves, but what I wanted to examine appeared to be still intact. Baugrun and Naga decided to move over to where I stood, curious as to what I could be up to. I knelt beside the body; I would have to move it in order to check out the tattoo. The back of the neck was the usual place for the mark. Occasionally some would be marked on the wrist or ankle. I was betting that this particular Vamp was a traditionalist. I placed my hands on the Vamps head turning it; suddenly the Vampire’s head was wrenched from my grasp. I stood quickly to see that one of the legs of the Vampire inside Naga’s cavernous mouth. He was flailing the body about proudly as though it were his favorite stuffed animal.
“Don’t eat it,” I yelled lifting my hands in a placating gesture trying to get him to release the body before he shook it apart.
Baugrun enjoyed the way I was making a fool out of myself based on all his chuckling, which was the extent of his helpfulness. After the novelty of bungling wore off he said to Naga in a commanding tone.
“Naga, Drop it,”
Naga stopped his proud display of his newfound item of interest - the body - yet he didn’t drop it as he was instructed. He looked at Baugrun with the animal equivalent expression of “you must be joking,” Baugrun placed his balled fists firmly against his hips displaying disapproval with his Gog. He repeated the command, more forcefully this time.
“Naga, I said drop it,”
Naga let out a frustrated guttural huff of air making a movement with his body that looked to me like a dissatisfied shrug. He opened his mouth letting go of the leg sulking away ten or fifteen feet. I moved to the body thankful for what I was seeing. Naga’s playful display - if you want to call it that, yuck - had shifted the body in such a way that the tattoo was clearly visible. The mark was of the triple “X” design, the one Bobum had drawn for Barnabas with the French fry. There wasn’t enough left of the other Vampires to make certain that they all had the same triple “X” mark; I was going to assume they did. It was standard practice for Familiars to be marked when they’re still human, once they’d gone through the death and rebirth process of becoming a Vampire, it’s next to impossible to mark the skin of an immortal. I pulled out my iPhone taking a picture of it.