David motioned for Ahtash to wait outside and she nodded, standing cross armed before the door like a guard. David closed the portal and walked closer to Haven’s bedside, sitting in a chair beside her night stand. Daisy jumped onto Haven’s bed and laid her head in the healer’s lap. “I’m sorry if I woke you,” Haven choked out, ever trying to stay dignified. “I don’t seem to be doing a whole lot of things right these days.”
“What do you mean? We couldn’t have made it this far without you,” David exclaimed rationally.
“That’s sweet of you to say, but it’s not true,” Haven blew her nose.
“It’s precisely true. The sheer number of injuries we have sustained as a group is evidence enough. Had it not been for your presence, I would be dead, as would Sam,” David calculated.
“Yeah, well. He’s not as appreciative as you seem to be David,” Haven sighed.
“Sam has always been a little self-involved. He gets it honestly. From what I can remember from his father, he was a hard man to love. Just as Sam is I’m sure.”
“I don’t love him,” Haven responded immediately.
“Oh,” David was visibly stunned. “I thought the two of you…”
“No. We might have been an item… once… but not anymore,” Haven recounted.
There was an awkward silence for a few moments, David finally nodding. “Well good, because I would hate for my sister to hurt you.”
“You know about her feelings towards Sam?” Haven asked.
“Please, it’s been evident since we were twelve. Sam and April have been inseparable even before that, since we were toddlers in fact. She doesn't hide it as well as she thinks. Sam too, they've both been awkwardly dancing around the subject for years,” David stated.
The awkward silence covered the room once more as the apprentice realized how hurtful his words could be to her. David stumbled to say something more supportive. “It’s his loss in the end anyways.”
“How so?” Haven asked, looking at him.
Haven looked into David’s deep sea green eyes. They weren’t as emerald as his sisters’. They were calmer, more intelligent, gentler. Haven felt comforted when he was near, like the trials of the world didn’t matter in the long run because David understood that there were bigger things out there. Every time they shared moments like this, she felt safe. His connection to the spirits of nature seemed to create an aura of tranquility around him. Maybe she had been looking towards the wrong man all along.
“Because,” David stammered, “who would choose anyone over someone so… radiant, smart, funny, kind, charismatic, helpful…”
Haven leaned forward and kissed him, interrupting his path of thought and sending a chill up the young apprentice’s spine. Haven placed her hand on David’s thigh, most tenderly, and David’s hand encased hers in a tight but not painful embrace. When they were through, they looked into each other’s eyes once more. “Thank you Sparkles,” Haven smiled, “I feel much better now.”
David grinned as his face flushed. Haven patted his leg, signaling him to release her hand. She stood and straightened her white dress she had been wearing again once they had reached Lochmare. David's heart was practically beating out of his chest. "That was... there are no words...”
Haven smiled at him. "It was amazing. We should do that more often.”
"I look forward to it.”
They both laughed softly, giddy as school children. "Now, if only I can improve my brother’s mood as you have mine,” Haven changed the subject
"Hopefully not in the same way,” David joked.
They both giggled again. David cleared his throat in an attempt to regain composure. “What’s wrong with Nathaniel?”
“He’s been assigned a position he doesn’t agree with. He’s always wanted to fight, ever since our father died,” Haven sighed.
“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?” David asked.
Haven paced about the room. “Well no doubt Sammy’s told you about how we were born. Momma was a celibate priestess and daddy was a senator. They were secretly married after Nathan was born and Momma died giving birth to me.”
“I’m sorry,” David exclaimed.
Haven smiled gently at him, appreciative of his concern. She continued her story. “Daddy just wasn’t the same after that. I don’t remember much but Nathan says he drank more, got overweight. He barely stayed focused on his job. That was when Nanny Fran became essential to my brother and I being raised.”
David nodded as Haven continued. “On the day that he died, there was an assassination attempt on King Jeremy’s life. One of Cain’s agents snuck in with the crowd while the king held court. When the man attacked, a scuffle broke out. The agent, he had some sort of explosive. When he was stopped… he…” Haven couldn’t finish the telling.
David shook his head and looked down at the floor. Haven continued, “A few guards, a couple advisors, and my father were killed.”
David sighed as Haven wrapped her arms around herself. “Your father helped stop a terrorist, had he not, a lot more people might have died.” David stated matter-of-factly, “He was very brave.”
“Yes, he was. Nathan’s never lived it down though. He’s always wanted to fight back, stop this sort of thing from happening to other families.”
“Your brother is equally as brave as your father,” David stated. “It’s a shame he isn’t given the opportunity. What’s holding him back?”
“It seems Prince Edmund wasn’t happy about my brother’s outburst in Granddaddy’s den. Nathan told me he’s probably blacklisted for the rest of his career,” Haven stated. She took in a stifled breath, holding back the urge to start crying again. “I don’t know how much longer we can keep this house without his promotion. I don’t wanna lose this place; it’s the house I grew up in.”
Haven couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. David stood and bundled her in his arms as her tears began again. He cooed and coaxed to her softly as he ran his hand through her golden hair. Something had to be done to fix the Whitespell’s predicament. Sam had enough to worry about. David thought back to the blade he had found the night Cortendale had burned and what his sister had told him about it. The apprentice started forming a plan in his head almost immediately. “Don’t worry,” David said as Haven cried on his shoulder, “These things have a way of working out in the end.”
Haven sniffled and smiled at him. “I wish I had your optimism sometimes.”
David nodded, letting her lay her head down on his shoulder once more as she calmed herself down. It would work out alright, and David would make sure it did.
* * *
Christian led Sam, April, and Prince Lucas through a side passage that not even the prince’s map had charted. They had only needed a few minutes to devise a plan to take care of Reaver. There were stocks of a special powder that had started making its way through the various pirate bands, a powder that the Underlord had stashed deep in the recesses of the Underbelly. Supposedly, if you ignited the powder with an open flame, the powder would combust. The more powder in the area, the larger the explosion. Christian had originally wanted to plant it under the Underlord’s throne, which Reaver sat in now, and blow the whole thing to the surface. Sam, however, had suggested a different approach. If they used the powder to create distractions, it might draw away a majority of Reaver’s guards, leaving the would-be ruler of the Underbelly vulnerable. Sam could conduct a frontal assault and challenge the guards left in the “throne room”, while April snuck around behind. A couple knife stabs to the back and Reaver would be no more. Everyone had agreed that Sam’s plan minimized unneeded bloodshed while also ensuring the greatest chance of success. “Reaver’s men are still capable men the Underlord can use. Killing them all wouldn’t inspire Reaver’s surviving forces to join back under the Underlord’s rule; it would only perpetuate the fighting,” Sam had argued.
“Meanwhile, cut off the head of the snake, the body dies,” April had agreed.
; It was an easy enough alteration to Christian’s original idea, and the dwarf didn’t mind either one, as long as this Reaver character was dead. Sam’s mind was tumbling through a bundle of questions however as they moved towards the hidden cache of powder deep within the recesses of the aquifer fort ruins. Why had this Underlord not fought back? Why was Christian the only one who seemed to work with him? Sam and April had seen neither hide nor hair of any such ruler. He was sure what Christian and Lucas would say about him, he was in hiding or off in another part of the ruins battling it out from some hidden bunker, but Sam couldn’t help but shake the feeling there was more to this than what he was being told.
As they rounded a corner, they could see the torchlight of the entrance to the cache. A lowly guard sat asleep next to the boarded up entrance. Christian stroked his beard in confusion. “Hmmm,” He said allowed.
“What’s wrong?” April asked.
Christian shook his head. “Nothin, just there’s usually more guards.”
“Could Reaver be using them for something else?” Lucas asked.
Christian shrugged. “Eh, who cares? Easier for us,” The dwarf withdrew his daggers and prepared to blitz the guard.
“Wait!” Sam grabbed the dwarf’s shoulder. “Is there really a need to kill him? It’s only one guard. Can’t we just subdue him until we’re finished?”
“Look kid, I admire your values and all, but we ain’t got time to play nice,” Christian argued.
Sam looked at April pleadingly. The auburn haired rogue looked into the Guardian’s cerulean eyes and she sighed heavily. “Fine!” She said flabbergasted, “I’ll take care of it, but you have to hold him down!”
April crept forward and withdrew her dagger. For a moment Sam thought she might go back on her word, but then April slammed the hilt into the back of the guard’s skull and the dazed ruffian fell forward in a muffled yelp. Sam sprinted forward and held the man to the ground while April started binding the guard’s arms and legs with rope. “Don’t struggle, you’re going to be fine,” Sam whispered to the man.
The guard turned and looked at Sam with half rage, half fear. “What in Damnation is going on?”
“We’re just borrowing something from you, friend. Keep it down,” Sam said.
“Help! Somebody get down here right…”
The man’s cry was muffled by a cloth being tied over his mouth. “Shut it or I’ll hit you harder next time!” April threatened.
The woman whistled to the others and turned to Sam. “Great idea! It’s a miracle he didn’t bring the whole Underbelly down on top of us.”
“Better than needlessly killing him!” Sam argued.
“Hey! Enough of your belly achin, get a move on!” Christian scolded, rolling a barrel out of the cache. The two humans helped Christian and Lucas with more barrels, sliding the bound guard into the cache and closing the door behind them. The four bolted back into the tunnel system, their prize in hand.
***
Sam and April were getting nervous. An hour had passed since the trap had been set and ready to spring, but they had heard no explosions rock the tunnels. Had something happened to Lucas and Christian? The plan had the dwarf light his first powder keg and then two minutes after it would be the prince’s turn. From then on the two would trade off detonating other kegs placed at strategic points to keep the guards running aimlessly through the tunnels and away from Reaver’s “throne room”, but Christian was yet to fire his. Sam had no hope of finding his way to them, they were the ones chosen because they knew the Underbelly better than he and April. All they could do was wait.
Sam heard the patter of smaller yet heavier feet coming towards their hiding space and he withdrew Windrider. Had their plot been discovered? “Psst,” they heard Christian beckon, “Guardian? Where are ya?”
Sam stepped out from the shadows, “Christian!” Sam whispered harshly, “Why aren’t you at your position?”
“Last minute change, Boss man wants you to bring along his muscle,” Christian motioned to the large man behind him.
The burly individual roughly seven feet tall and rippling with muscles stepped forward. He nodded and grunted towards the two other humans. “Backup” He said, motioning to himself.
April looked insulted. "We can handle our end. We don't need backup.”
Christian shook his head. "No Missy, that’s his name.”
"Backup,” The goliath repeated.
Sam and April didn’t think to argue with the mountain of muscles standing before them. The auburn haired rogue looked back down at the dwarf. “Any more changes the Underlord would like to make? Or can we get to taking care of his usurper?”
“I agree,” Sam stated, “the longer we delay the more opportunity Reaver has of discovering us.”
“Yeah yeah yeah, I’ll get movin,” Christian threw up his hands defensively. He took a few puffs of air and started jogging down the passageways. “oof, I shouldn’ta had that third helpin’ of grits this mornin’.”
After another long stretch of waiting in awkward silence, the three humans heard the first rumbling from an explosion. “Ok, Reaver probably won’t send them off after just one, but when Lucas ignites his, that’s when the guards will probably be sent to investigate,” Sam stated, preparing his sword and shield.
The Guardian was right. As soon as two minutes had gone by, another explosion rocked the Underbelly and the guards came pouring out of the throne room and into the tunnels, hollering obscenities and boasting attack strategies. As soon as the herd of thieves and cutthroats had passed them, Sam and the others slipped into the throne room.
The room was small, with moss ridden stone columns and torch sconces. April immediately started inching her way around the edge of the room as Sam and “Backup” went for the five remaining guards in the center. Reaver was seated on a throne made out of a whiskey barrel and human skulls, cursing every profanity word he could devise at them. “What in the blazes?! Kill them! Kill them you worthless pack of dogs!” He barked.
Sam did his best to injure, not kill, the guards who didn’t seem too motivated to follow their leader’s orders in the first place. He cut a leg, punched a few faces, and even stomped on one guard’s toes. Sam imagined this was probably the most unorthodox and comical melee he would ever be in during his life.
Reaver was so concerned with barking confusing orders that April sprinted behind him without being noticed. She dug her knife deep into the man’s kidney and let him limp into the center of the room. “Remember me?” She sneered.
Reaver cradled his wounded back, turning to face her, “You! How in Damnation did you get here?"
"Give it up Reaver,” Sam challenged, pointing Windrider at him. "You're all alone.”
Reaver laughed. "I took control of Teva's largest criminal empire within a month. Do you honestly expect your empty threats to scare me? I am the Reaver, you dense meat-head. All I have to do is snap my fingers and...”
Backup stopped the man’s incessant ranting by twisting his neck until it snapped. The large man turned to the Guardian and stretched. “Finally. I thought that man would never stop his belly-aching,” He said in an aristocratic and educated voice.
April and Sam were thrown back. “Wait… that’s not the same voice you had earlier…” April looked perplexed.
“Of course it wasn’t, I didn’t want you to know the real me just yet,” Backup stated, sitting in the wine barreled throne and stretching his legs out.
“Know you?” Sam asked.
Before their eyes, Backup’s face morphed into Boris the bartender’s. The man smiled at them with the familiar mouth full of rotten teeth. “I ‘been watchin you since you entered the Underbelly,”
Sam’s eyes widened. “You’re a shade!”
The man’s face morphed again into the guard they had tied up to rob the powder kegs. “Brilliant deduction, Guardian of the Wind,” The educated voice said. “I am indeed.”
“You’re the Underlord,” April stated, walking t
o the front of the throne as the shade nodded. “You’ve been toying with us this whole time?”
“Not toying, testing,” The Shade answered.
“Why test us? If it was this easy to take down Reaver, why allow yourself to be ousted in the first place?” Sam asked.
“Reaver started working for me a few months ago after a lucrative bandit outfit he was running went belly up. Something about his fort being burned to cinders,” The Underlord waved his hand dismissively.
April and Sam shared a look and chuckled. "Yeah, that was kinda our doing,” April snickered.
The Underlord smiled. "Interesting. Anyway, he made me a lot of money, but he started becoming too hotheaded and began bringing others under control. A mutiny was bound to happen sooner or later and in my experience, it’s best to let them think they have won and then attack them once they’ve let their guard down. Rebellions are notoriously unorganized. It’s not my first time taking out a determined would-be competitor. Comes with the territory, I’m afraid. Having you help me kill him only reassured me you were as competent as all the tales about you describe.”
More explosions rocked the Underbelly as Christian and Lucas continued with the plan, unaware the fight had ended so quickly. The Underlord chuckled. “You impressed me Samuel Gale, I was simply going to kill everyone who was involved with the plot and be done with it, but your argument for minimal bloodshed was so adorable I couldn’t bring myself to force you. I even disposed of the powder cache guards before you arrived so you wouldn’t have to sully your hands.”
“So there were supposed to be more guards on the powder keg, like Christian mentioned,” April stated, placing a hand on her hip.
The shade chuckled “hmm hmm hmm yes, easily taken care of. There are all sorts of frightening creatures I can simulate. These criminals are so superstitious. Sometimes I do it just to entertain myself,” The Underlord stretched out over the chair and popped a grape into his mouth from a nearby bowl.
Christian and Lucas ran into the room, panting. Lucas nodded to the others and the dwarf fell to his knees on the floor exhausted. “Oh, hey boss. Nice ta see ya.”
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