My Thanks

Jennifer Macedo was the first person to ever ask to read my stories. The first to ever tell me I should always write. Someone who set me on my path with just a little bit of her time and a few kind words.

R A Davila a friend and fellow writer who has always been there when I needed help and a good swift kick in the ass. She acts as my Alpha reader and shares ideas and honest opinions with me. Never afraid to give me honest praise or criticism when called for.

Kelly Kilroy is my best friend in the world. He has never actually helped me with my writing, but has been there when I needed him.

My family, in particular my sister Susan Oliveira, my bother in law Louis Oliveira, and my mom Edite Chereta. Thank you for all your love and support.

Jessica Albin a fan and reader who I made a certain promise to.

Chapter 1

Not Quite What I Expected

Waldo, Alice, and Gronk were headed towards the city of World’s End. As the name implied this was the very edge of the Shattered Lands and human civilization. If he looked up, he could see mountains reaching into the heavens. Wisps of clouds drifted between the peaks, and every mountain top was coated in frozen clouds, or ‘snow.’ These were the Titanos Mountains that marked the border between the Shattered Lands and Ostagraad, the eastern wilderness ruled by monsters. No map could tell you what lay to the east beyond those peaks. All of them were a blank space with the words, ‘Here there be monsters,’ scrawled in large letters.

Waldo had a huge grin on his face and had to resist the urge to skip. Skipping was beneath the dignity of a Dark Mage and the Heir to one of the Great Families of Alteroth. But he was tempted. It had taken him months to get from his homeland to the Storm Sea, and he’d expected to need many more months to reach this place. A ship could have delivered him to the eastern end of that sea, but after that would be another journey by land. This one longer than the first. So far as he could tell there were no navigable rivers or major roads. He’d expected it to take half a year or longer. But for once (for once!) the Dark Powers had smiled upon him. He’d traversed all those many miles in the blink of an eye. His only regret was that the situation hadn’t allowed him to use the Djinn’s Tear to simply wish for a dragon’s egg directly.

Now he was here! The seemingly hopeless quest he’d been forced to undertake was one short step away from completion! The three conditions that had been imposed were to acquire three monsters as familiars, defeat a knight in battle, and acquire a dragon’s egg or a dragon. That last one had seemed utterly impossible, while the first two were merely horrendously difficult. Technically, he had yet to achieve any of these three objectives, however…

He glanced to his left at an eight-foot-tall, green skinned ogre by the name of Gronk. He was a Great Monster who could snap oak trees in half and whose hide was so tough no non-magical blade could cut it. He was a savage, brutal beast that could slaughter a hundred knights and eat them whole, armor and all.

Gronk saw him looking and blew him a kiss.

Waldo turned to his right. Striding by his side was a stunningly beautiful woman with red hair, amethyst eyes, and a sensual figure that would make any man stop and stare, along with quite a few women. That was because despite her human appearance she was a succubus, a creature that was lust incarnate. She could make any man who was not a mage her obedient slave with just a look. In her true form she could fly like an eagle and had razor-sharp claws and fangs. Alice too was a Great Monster and more than a match for a knight or any common enemy such as an orc or goblin.

She noticed his gaze and blushed, Alice grabbed a handful of her hair and tugged at it. “Ah, darling, why are you looking at me so excited? Are… are you thinking about doing naughty things with me later? We never got a chance to be intimate the whole time we were on the ship.”

“I know, it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to sleep so peacefully. And my ribs have even stopped aching.”

She instantly let go of her hair and sent him a murderous look. Through the Bond he could sense annoyance and more than a little anger. Alice tended to get angry at him for absolutely no reason at all. That could be a problem as she often punched or kicked him. Alice and Gronk were both his familiars, through their Contracts they shared a magical bond that allowed him to sense their strong emotions, always know their location, and gave him the ability to summon them with a single word of magic. The Contract should also have made it impossible for either of them to lie, disobey, or physically harm him. Unfortunately, he’d somehow messed up the binding ritual, so it was only partially effective. Luckily, they were both willing to follow him of their own free will.

Alice was even his wife (outside of Alteroth at least.) She had tricked him into performing a marriage ceremony back in her native country. He had come to genuinely love her and think of her as his wife. The only issue was that under Alterothan law he could not marry without the permission of the Head of his family, his mother. So, he would need to do some explaining once he returned home. If his mother refused to acknowledge her, Alice would only be his familiar, not his wife. Given Alice’s anger issues Waldo had neglected to mention this fact to her.

With two Great Monsters serving him defeating a knight or gaining one additional monster familiar would be a snap. It was acquiring the dragon’s egg or dragon that had always seemed the impossible hurdle. Now it was almost within reach.

“Well,” Alice said sounding annoyed. “If it’s not about me, what has you so happy? I can tell through the Bond and that silly smile.”

“Do you really need to ask? There’s a dragon here! I’ve finally tracked one down! That means I’m about to complete my First Quest and go home!”

Alice didn’t appear nearly as thrilled about that as he did. “Ah, darling? Shouldn’t you be just a little more nervous about this?”

“Why?”

“Well,” Gronk said with a lisp. “Maybe because dragons are the kings of all monsters and you need a whole army to fight them. Seems like kind of a big deal to me. I mean how many dragons was it that ruined things?”

“You’re referring to the Shattering two thousand years ago?” His ogre nodded.  “Twelve.”

“That’s all?” Gronk said in surprise.

“It was enough,” Waldo said. “Twelve dragons were enough to slaughter the Amoran legions, roast the imperial mages, topple the greatest empire in history, lay waste to all of human civilization, and let the monster races flood in from the east.”

“Darling, I think you're wrong,” Alice said. “All the songs say it was hundreds and hundreds. Flocks so great they darkened the sky and covered the land in shadow.”

“Never trust a bard, they exaggerate and lie like a Poisondagger.” He continued before Alice could ask him what a Poisondagger was. “The ancient texts all confirm that it only took twelve dragons to exterminate the Amoran Empire and lay waste to every city they encountered.”

“And the three of us are going to face one of these monstrous beasts?”

“That’s right.”

“And then what?”

“We either steal one of its eggs or convince it to serve me as a familiar.”

Alice blinked. “And how exactly do we do that?”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll come up with something. The hard part was tracking one down. Now that I’ve found a dragon the rest should be relatively easy.”

Alice gawked and he could feel fear mixed with a sense of impending doom through the Bond. That was disappointing, he’d hoped Alice would have more faith in him.

XXX

The city was surrounded by a wooden stockade about twelve feet high with sharpened tops. There were a handful of watchtowers and you could also make out rooftops along with a single stone wall. The dirt road led to a wide-open gate. There was a single guard leaning against it with a throwing spear resting on his shoulder. He wore was a leather jerkin and breeches. The man watched their approach with a bored expression. This was surprising given that a White Mage was nearing. Even more so as there was an ogre too. Everywhere he’d travelled so far White Mages drew a lot of attention, while the sight of an ogre was enough to cause widespread panic.

“Welcome to Lunatown, strangers,” the man said with a causal nod. “Everyone is welcome, everyone is equal, just don’t start any fights or cause any trouble.”

“Lunatown?” Waldo asked. “Isn’t this place called World’s End?”

“That’s what the Amorans called it. Now it’s called Lunatown.”

Waldo looked through the open gate. There were cottages and huts and simple one-story homes. Everything looked to be made of wood and thatch and be in decent repair. The streets weren’t paved and various animals such as dogs, pigs, and chickens could be spotted. More interestingly, there was a goblin sitting on a porch talking to a middle-aged man with a couple children playing behind him. The goblin didn’t have a collar and wasn’t acting subservient. He thought of Middleton where thousands of goblins had been mining slaves. He thought of Norwich where they were killed on sight. Those were usually the only two options.

“What’s the policy here when it comes to monsters?”

“They’re welcome so long as they behave themselves,” the guard glanced at Gronk. “Don’t start fights or cause trouble. Troublemakers get eaten.”

Gronk laughed at that. “I might be a little tough to chew, sweetie.”

“Not for everyone,” the guard said with complete seriousness. “Lunatown is a sanctuary and a peaceful place, we take all kinds. But we expect people to behave. If you cause problems, you’ll regret it. Also,” he shifted his focus back to Waldo. “If you want scales, you need to buy a keg of whiskey. Don’t ask for blood though, she doesn’t like that.”

“What?”

The guard shrugged. “You’re not the first spell caster to come through here.”

XXX

Except in the Rats Nest, every other place Waldo had ever visited people had stared and kept their distance. A White Mage was dangerous, a person to be feared and treated with wary respect. Ogres were objects of absolute terror. He’d been able to rob entire villages because of that. The whole reason Waldo had created the illusion of Belle of Tarsus was to allow Gronk to enter cities with him. What shocked him about his current situation was the lack of panic and alarm. There was hardly any reaction at all. People passing by might stare for a moment, but that was usually all. They didn’t even move to the other side of the street or begin screaming, ‘It’s an ogre! Run for your lives!’ Some actually waved and called greetings! They seemed to accept the presence of a White Mage and an ogre without a second thought.

What a strange and savage place.

Most of the residents were human, he would estimate seven out of every ten. But there were also plenty of goblins, orcs, and dwarves. He also spotted a handful of elves. The elves drew his attention more than any other group. Lithe, graceful, with bright eyes and pale beautiful faces. When he saw a couple standing on a corner chatting Waldo stared. He’d seen elves before, his mother hadn’t owned any, they rare were even in Alter. Outside of Alter he hadn’t spotted a single one. (He didn’t count the Drow in Torikai. They were considered a completely separate race from the surface elves.) Back home the ones he’d seen were members or servants of the Blooddrinkers. That family had a standing offer of five gold skulls for any healthy elf: male or female. Waldo longed to take them both as slaves and bring them home with him. They could be a gift for mother, she would love showing them off to the other families. He shook his head and dismissed the idea; he had much more important things to worry about. Perhaps later if he had time.

Besides the dragon there didn’t appear to be any other Great Monsters residing in the city. Not that he could really tell. Whenever he cast his monster detection spell, he covered his eyes and could only stand it for a few seconds before ending it. A blazing light as bright as the horrible ball of fire would half blind him and blot out everything else, he couldn’t even make out the light from Gronk or Alice standing right beside him. Gronk told him he hadn’t picked up any minotaurs or other Great Monsters by scent. So, likely there weren’t any. That would be good as dealing with a dragon was more than enough. Each time he cast the spell he could see the general direction he needed to go. Waldo could have asked one of the locals, but that would be an admission of weakness. Besides, it wasn’t necessary. Before long he would track the dragon down, even if it was sleeping deep inside a lair.

According to the historical texts the twelve dragons that had destroyed the empire had all been ancient. Dragons were not immortal, but they could live for thousands, possibly tens of thousands of years. And unlike most creatures they never stopped growing. Each of the twelve had been bigger than the largest castle, they’d been equal to hills. Even a typical adult dragon would be on the order of forty to seventy feet long from snout to tip of tail, bigger than even the largest mountain giant. There were no castles or buildings here to hide anything of that size. So, at some point he would spot his target.

Waldo wasn’t sure what he would do. Dragons were intelligent and could both speak and work magic. Since he was now a masterful liar perhaps he could trick the dragon into surrendering an egg? If that didn’t work, he might see about bargaining. If all else failed theft remained a final option. Waldo simply knew he was not leaving here without either an egg or the dragon itself. He’d been lucky to discover this one’s location, he could spend the rest of his life searching and never find a second. So, whatever it took, he would get either the dragon or its egg.

As they went through the town, they passed a stone wall. It was about twenty feet tall with the top of it jagged and broken. It ran along the ground for about forty feet. There were homes built right up alongside it, so far as Waldo could see it was the only solid stone structure in the entire city. Waldo could sense wards still active after two millennia.

As they went past Waldo pointed to it. “This is what ended the world.”

“What?’ Alice asked.

“The fortress this wall was a part of, the fortress the Amorans called World’s End. This caused the Shattering.”

“Wasn’t it the dragons?”

“Well, they were the instrument of course, but this fortress was the original cause.”

“How’d a bunch of rocks do that, master?” Gronk asked.

“Well, by the time Valens the Damned became emperor the Amorans had conquered the entire known world. From Kjaamin in the north to the Spear of Arica in the south, from Avalon, it was called Brittanos back then, out in the western sea, all the way east to Wu Lan. Everything belonged to the Amoran Empire. Everything except the lands beyond the Titanos Mountains. Everything but Ostagraad.”

Waldo shook his head.

“You would think the whole world would be enough, but it wasn’t. Valens wanted to be a conqueror; he wanted his name to go down in the history books. Well, he got that much at least.”

“The songs all say Valens seduced and murdered the dragon queen and that’s why the dragons took revenge,” Alice said.

“What did I tell you about listening to bards?” Waldo snorted. “Bunch of liars, the whole lot.”

“So, what happened?” Gronk asked.

“Well, this is the western end of one of the few passes through the mountains. The emperor ordered a great fortress built here and filled it with supplies while scouts went out and the legions assembled. He gathered two hundred legions, a million men, and a thousand imperial mages, the single largest and most powerful army in history. He was here in person to lead his legions eastward to enslave the goblins, slaughter the orcs, humble the elves, and conquer the dwarves. He proclaimed that every living creature in this world would kneel before him,” Waldo sighed. “Such unbelievable arrogance. The man would have made a great Dark Mage.”

“I’m sure,” Alice said with a roll of her eyes.

“In any case, the story goes that the night before Valens was to lead his army east, he was visited in his command tent by a beautiful woman who-”

“The dragon queen?!” Alice asked.

“No. But she was a dragon in human form. She gave him a warning. She told him to turn back and be satisfied with all the rest of the world. That he could not have the lands beyond the mountains. She promised him that if he turned his horse east instead of west, he and all his people would suffer for it. Well, as you can probably guess, Valens ignored the warning. He led his army eastward towards the pass, and before long twelve dragons appeared. The rest you know.”

Gronk applauded. “I like that story, master.”

“I like the one with the dragon queen better,” Alice said.

“What I told you isn’t a story, Alice. It’s history.”

“What’s the difference?”

“What I told you is written in a historical textbook by a recognized historian. It is therefore absolute and undisputable fact.”

She shrugged. “I still prefer the song version.”

“You know what would make it even better?” Gronk said. “Some cute manly looking knights riding on the backs of the dragons.”

“Oh! You’re right Gronk,” Alice agreed. “That would make it better. And the evil emperor could have kidnapped an innocent princess. Then the dragons and knights would…”

Waldo stopped listening and decided to never try and educate Alice and Gronk about anything ever again.

XXX

Waldo was confused.

Alice would have been quick to tell him this was nothing unusual. In this specific case though the reason for his confusion was simple. He had cast his detect monster spell one final time and confirmed the source of the blinding light. It was coming from a building designed to look like a barrel sitting on its side. Outside the door was a wooden sign depicting a pig drinking from a mug. The tavern was larger than most of the homes and other buildings in the city, but nowhere near big enough to hold a dragon. But he had already recast the spell to be sure, the dragon was inside.

“This is it,” Waldo said. “Let me do all the talking and just watch for now. Whatever I say nod in agreement and support me.”

Alice’s knees were trembling, and she was yanking a fistful of hair. “Ah, darling? Are you sure about this?”

Gronk had taken a couple of big sniffs and was hanging back. His face was a paler shade of green than usual. “Master, maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”

Through the Bond he felt mounting terror. The senses of monsters were much sharper than those of humans. This was further confirmation that a dragon really was inside.

“I didn’t come all this way not to get my dragon egg. Now come along.” Waldo squared his shoulders, put his head back, and opened the door to the tavern.

During his journeys Waldo had visited quite a number of inns and taverns. On first glance this place would have fit in with any of them. The floor was dirt and there were about a dozen small tables with four or five chairs at each. There was a long bar with more chairs lined up against it. There was another door on the far end of the building that Waldo was sure led to a kitchen. The air stank of alcohol, smoke, and cooking food. Nothing about the place much stood out from the dozens of other inns and taverns he’d seen.

Well, other than the occupants.

“Welcome to the Drunken Porker,” a dwarf barman said. “Sit wherever you want.”

Besides the barman there were several people drinking ale and eating. Two were dwarves, one an orc, and the rest human. They all looked up as he entered, then returned to their drinks and conversations. Not a single one stared or gawked at the sudden arrival of a White Mage.

Waldo didn’t pay them any mind. Instead, he focused on a girl who was lying sprawled out on a table in the corner. There was an empty pitcher tipped over on its side, and a partially full one still gripped in her hand. She looked young, probably no older fourteen or fifteen. She had scars all over the right side of her face and arm. Waldo noted she was missing two fingers on her right hand. She had shoulder length hair that was a tangled mess and black as ink. She wore a brown tunic and trousers and had bare feet. From her forehead there were two curved horns sticking out of her temples, otherwise her features were human. Her skin color was unusual though, it was red. Not the red Alice got when he asked her if she wanted to play slave master and innocent slave girl. Not even the red of someone working too long under the horrible ball of fire. No, the girl’s skin was a bright crimson as clear and deep as the moon’s.

With quick certain steps he came to stand right before her table. As he stood there staring at her she slowly lifted her head and opened her eyes. The irises were pink, and the pupils slitted like a snake’s. She casually looked him up and down.

Waldo took a deep breath. EVERYTHING depended on what came next. His entire future was about to be decided! “Hello, I am-”

“Buy me a pitcher of whiskey first,” she said in a teen girl’s voice. “And no, I don’t do blood.” She put her head back down and shut her eyes.

Waldo stood there and continued to stare. “Not quite what I expected.”

“Join the club,” the dwarf behind the bar said. He was filling up a pitcher. “That’ll be two silver coins.”

Chapter 2

Luna

Alice and Gronk had trailed behind Waldo, keeping a distance from the girl at the table. Alice opened her purse and took out two silver coins, placing them atop the bar. It was evidence of her raw nerves that she did this without complaining about the price.

“Much obliged,” the barman scooped them up and made them disappear. He then stepped out from behind the bar with a large wooden pitcher filled to the brim with clear brown liquid. The dwarf hurried over to the back table and placed it front of the crimson skinned girl. “Try not to spill half of it.”

“Shut up, you damn dwarf,” the girl growled. “Be glad you’re all skin and bones.”

The dwarf paid her no real mind as he returned to his place behind the bar. For her part, the girl sat up just enough to lean over and place her lips at the edge of the fresh pitcher, ignoring the one that was still about a third full. She made a loud slurping sound and sucked up a mouthful. The whiskey had a potent aroma and as she drank a bit dribbled down her chin.

“Ahhhh,” she let out a long, satisfied sigh.

As all this was going on the other patrons in the bar didn’t seem to notice or care. Waldo, Gronk, and Alice were the only ones paying attention.

“Excuse me,” Waldo finally spoke. “But just to confirm this, you are a dragon correct?”

The girl looked at him and scrubbed her chin with her mangled hand. “That’s right, my name is Luna.”

“I see, that explains this city’s supposed name then. May I assume you are the ruler here?”

“As if I’d care that much.”

“Well, I am-”

“I’ll save you some trouble,” Luna said interrupting him. “This,” she tapped the side of the pitcher. “Is just so I’ll talk to you. It doesn’t buy you anything but my attention. Now a scale costs a keg of whiskey, a claw is three kegs, and a fang will be five. And again, no blood, I don’t give a damn what you’re willing to pay. So, what do you want, mage?”

“A barrel is eighty silver coins,” the dwarven barman tossed in.

“Eighty?!” Alice’s jaw dropped and her horror was momentarily refocused on the dwarf.

Waldo didn’t pay either of them any mind. “Ah, I am Waldo Rabbit of Avalon, this is-”

“Your name is mage,” she again cut him off. “Like I would bother with names for bugs like you. You live what? Four or five years? Names are for things that last awhile. Your pet there is ogre and your other...” Luna paused as her eyes fell on Alice. “Hmmm, succubus, well that’s rare at least.”

Alice glanced nervously about the room, “Ah, please don’t tell people what I am.”

“Sure, whatever you say, succubus.”

“You just-”

Luna shifted her attention back to Waldo. “So then, what do you want, mage? The sooner you tell me the sooner you can pay for my drinks.”

“I think there’s a misunderstanding here,” Waldo said. “I am not interested in scales or claws or blood.”

“That so?” Luna took a swallow from her pitcher. “Then what do you want?”

Waldo opened his mouth to ask if she had an egg and what she would be willing to accept in exchange for it. Before he could answer her though, the door to the tavern was thrown open and a young man rushed inside. He was panting and needed a moment to catch his breath.

“Knight… at the gate… wants to… fight.”

“Again?!” Luna slammed the pitcher down. “I had to deal with one of these just last week!”

“It was three months ago,” the dwarf said.

“Whatever! It’s annoying! I have better things to do with my time!”

“Like sit here and empty out all my stores?”

She glared at him. The dwarf stood there and looked back at her with a bored expression. “Whatever! He better at least have a fat purse.” Luna got to her feet and stormed out, walking right past Waldo and his companions.

“Wait a moment, I-”

Luna opened and slammed shut the tavern door behind her.

“Well, that went well master,” Gronk said. “Can we go now?”

Waldo hurried after her. Gronk and Alice shared an unhappy look but followed.

XXX

Luna ran through the muddy streets much faster than Waldo could. He noticed that unlike with him people hurried to get out of her way and keep a safe distance. Gronk and Alice were soon at his side matching his pace without any effort.

“Darling, maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”

He was gasping for air and so just shook his head. He’d already explained to both of them about his First Quest and its conditions. He couldn’t return home again without a dragon’s egg or a dragon. How could she even suggest he give up?

“She’s right, master. I bet she’s a mean drunk too; you can just tell.”

Waldo shook his head again and kept on running as best he could. His companions stayed right by his side trying to convince him that leaving was the best course of action. He ignored them. Eventually they ended up all the way back at the gate where they’d first arrived. The guard who’d welcomed them was nowhere to be seen. The area in general was deserted. Waldo spotted a few faces peering out from windows and partially opened doors, but there was no one in the street now besides himself, Alice, and Gronk.

Luna was standing in front of the gate. She was scrawny and a few inches shorter than he was. Barefoot in stained tunic and trousers she looked anything but impressive. On the other side of the gate was a man on horseback. He was in full plate armor wearing a helmet with raised visor. Strapped to one arm was a kite shield with the image of a hawk. The other held a long lance whose butt was resting against his saddle. The horse was pawing at the ground and trying to back away, the knight had to struggle to keep it under control. With the visor up Waldo could see the face of a young man with a thin mustache. He did not look scared, rather he appeared more annoyed and frustrated than anything else. The knight was paying more attention to his mount than to the girl standing in front of him.

“So, you’re the idiot who came here to die?” Luna asked.

“I have come here on a quest to slay the dragon that has been terrifying the poor people of this land.”

He sounded quite righteous and sure of himself. Waldo immediately disliked him.

“What a brave knight!” Alice sighed.

“He’s an idiot,” Waldo said.

Luna seemed to agree with him. “Quest my ass! You’re just hoping to make a name for yourself and get rich. I know your type. You’re the second or third son of some minor lord who just barely scraped up enough coin to buy a horse and some secondhand armor. Your dad probably threw you out of the keep and told you to go make a living.”

The knight scowled. “I am Sir Foros Kirimir of-”

“Your name is fool and it’s about to be lunch. What’s your favorite song?”

“What?” The knight was still struggling to keep his horse under control.

“Your favorite song, you know, like the bards sing or like they sing around the campfires. Since you actually think you have a chance to kill me it’s probably Sir Gideon’s Quest, Balomar and the Red Wyrm, or The Brave Sir Robin.”

The knight frowned. “If you must know, Balomar and the Red Wyrm has been my favorite since I was a boy.”

“Figures, fucking bards and their fucking made up songs. I swear they kill more people than Scarlet Fever.”

Waldo turned to Alice. “See?”

Alice rolled her eyes.

“I’ll give you one chance, idiot knight. Give me your purse and get out of here.”

“I didn’t come here to be mocked by some red skinned little demon girl!” He had his horse steadied and lowered his lance to point it at her chest. “I came here to fight the dragon. Call it out for me or lead me to it!”

“Your kind never listens,” she muttered. “Fine, if you want to die so badly, I was a little hungry anyway.”

There was no sound of flesh tearing and ripping like when Alice transformed. The only thing Waldo heard was a low hiss and scratching. As he watched, Luna’s features melted as she expanded. Arms and legs deformed and became shapeless blobs. Her head sprouted from her neck and stretched out. The clothes were shredded. Waldo watched as the form kept getting bigger and spreading out. Smooth skin started to roughen and the blobs that had been appendages lengthened and grew out of the central mass. A whole different limb began to stick out of the rear and became a tail. As the red form grew bigger it took on a more distinct, more reptilian shape. Four clawed legs, a tail, and a head at the end of a snakelike neck took appeared. The body was covered in scales that were the exact same crimson as Luna’s skin. The transformation was over in less than half a minute. The result was at once terrifying and also… disappointing.

She was a dragon, no question. The greatest of the Great Monsters. Whole tomes were written about her race. Their scales were harder than steel, their fangs and claws could make potions vastly more effective, and their blood extend life and could cure all short of death. They were the ultimate predators of this world and deserving the title of king of all monsters. When Waldo had heard the terms of his First Quest it had seemed impossible precisely because dragons were creatures so far above all others.

Luna arched her back and slammed her tail into the ground. She let loose a howl of pain. “It hurts! It always hurts!”

There was a chunk of her face missing, the wound matching the shape of a bite. There were no scales covering that area, just reddish-brown flesh that was trickling blood. Three of the four legs ended with scaled feet containing four claws. On the fourth leg two digits were missing. The most grievous wound though was on her back.

Waldo and his companions were well behind her and so he had a clear view of the dragon’s entire body. He’d read dragon anatomical texts in his family library. A dragon’s wings were attached to its spine just below the shoulder. Luna had no wings. Instead, where they should have been, there was a deep and ragged gash. Waldo could see bone and the flesh there was redder and rawer than her other wounds. Blood didn’t trickle there, it ran freely. A dragon she was, but it was plain to see she was a badly mauled one that could no longer fly.

The wounds weren’t the only things to disappoint Waldo. He would guess she was only about fifteen feet long. That made her about twice the size of Gronk, and considerably smaller than the cyclops they’d just fought. He’d expected her to be bigger than a house. It was estimated dragons took two hundred years to reach maturity. He was willing to bet she wasn’t even a hundred.

As soon as Luna had started to transform the knight’s mount had tried to bolt. He held tight to the reigns and somehow barely managed to keep the horse from galloping away. With the transformation complete he still faced her on horseback.

“Well? You wanted to fight me, didn’t you?” Luna growled and lowered her head. She had two curved horns coming from atop her brow. Her tail was lashing violently and whipping dust up into the air. “Here I am, stupid knight!”

Through the Bond he could sense terror from both Gronk and Alice, a fear greater and more primal than what they’d felt fighting the cyclops. He could understand why, he might have the dull senses of a human, but even he could feel the rage and murderous intent coming off Luna in waves. It made his knees weak and she wasn’t even facing him. If the knight had fled as fast as he could or started begging for mercy Waldo would have understood. Instead, the fool slammed shut his visor, lowered his lance, and kicked his horse into a gallop. Waldo admired his courage if not his survival instinct.

The knight’s mount must have been very well trained. Despite trying to bolt just a moment earlier, it charged at the dragon.

Luna opened her mouth wide and Waldo heard a gush of wind as she sucked in a long breath. In the next instant she let loose a torrent of flame. It bathed rider and mount, they vanished from sight as they let out high pitched screams. Screams that lasted no more than a couple heartbeats.

When the stream of fire cut off the horse was lying on its side, blackened, and charred. The knight had toppled off and ended up a few feet away, his armor was glowing red hot and the stump of his lance was still clutched in one gauntleted hand. All the nearby grass was burning, and he could smell burnt meat.

“Stupid fucking idiot, putting me through all this,” Luna stomped over to the corpses. Ignoring the horse, she snatched up the knight and shoved him into her maw. From his angle Waldo couldn’t directly see her eating him, but he could clearly hear metal and bone crunching and watched her jaw working.

With the short contest now over people came out of hiding. Some of them shouted about putting out the fires while most kept their distance and watched.

“Good she no tear up fence this time,” a goblin said.

A nearby man with a long coat nodded. “Yeah, she always gets out of control when she fights.”

The dragon’s head suddenly snapped around and large pink eyes narrowed. There were chunks of meat and bits of metal in her teeth. The goblin and man paled and left at a run. Luna grunted and returned to finishing her meal.

“Ah, darling?” Alice asked in a trembling voice. “Maybe we should just go?”

Gronk nodded his head faster than a hummingbird could flap its wings. “That sounds like a great idea, master.”

“We’re not leaving,” he said. Waldo took a deep breath and carefully approached her. He could understand their reluctance. His own legs were shaking, and his heart was pounding. He kept walking though. It was either this or give up all hope of going home again. As he came close, she finished off the last bit of char broiled knight.

She craned her neck to look down at him. “Did you like the show, mage?  Except for the ones here, most humans who see a dragon breathe fire don’t live long after.”

“Ah, it was quite impressive.”

“Damn right,” she went over to the charred horse and looked over the saddle bags. Like everything else they’d been burned to a crisp. Luna tore at them with her claws, shredding them. Tools, weapons, bits of clothing, and coins fell out. Despite her size, Luna quickly separated the coins out from the rest and counted them up as quick as Alice would.

She let out a disgusted grunt and slapped her tail down. “Thirty-six copper coins! That’s it! Cheap bastard didn’t even have half a silver! Quest my scaly ass! Honor my scaly ass! The ones who come here are always poor and looking to get rich off my corpse!” She snapped her head back in his direction, bending it at the end of a long serpentine neck. “Anyone stupid enough to think they can kill me gets what they deserve!”

“Er, right.” Waldo swallowed and tried not to look as scared as he felt.

“Don’t be so frightened, I only kill the humans who want to kill me or make too much noise when I’m hung over or cause me problems.” Luna paused. “Well anyway, since I’m in my true form what did you want to get? Scales? Claws? Fangs? So long as you have the coin, I’ll bargain with you.”

“Uhm, out of curiosity, what would an egg cost?”

“An egg?” Her tailed curled up a bit. “Do I look like a mother to you?”

“Well-”

“I’m only seventy, I don’t need to worry about that for at least another few hundred years. That’s if I can find a male who’d be willing to do it with someone as ugly and scarred as me. And if I did have a child,” her slitted eyes narrowed, and a puff of smoke exited her nostrils. “What makes you think I’d sell her?”

Waldo swallowed. “I’ll take a claw.”

XXX

Luna was back in her human form and curled up on the floor next to an open keg of whiskey. It was still almost completely full. Two additional barrels had been rolled out and set aside. Waldo was at the bar with a foot-long yellowed tusk in his hands. The dwarf barman was wiping clean some mugs.

“That’ll keep her happy for at least a month,” the barman said. “Will you be heading home now, Master Rabbit?”

Waldo shook his head. Sitting on the bar in front of him was a more than foot long claw. “No, can you recommend a place for lodging? Also,” he looked to where Luna was snoring. “Can you tell me about her?”

“Order some drinks and I’ll talk your ear off.”

Chapter 3

A Shot

“My name is Quartz Felspar Brewmaster by the way. Everyone just calls me Quartz,” he jerked a thumb at the sleeping, and naked, Luna. “That or ‘dwarf.’ You’ve got sixty silver coins in credit. So, what can I get you? A mug of ale is three copper coins.”

“We never said you could open a tab,” Alice said with annoyance. “Shouldn’t you have given us back our change?”

Each barrel had cost eighty silver coins, a grand total of two hundred forty or the equivalent of TWELVE gold coins. Mercifully, as Alice had tried to negotiate the price down to something sane, she’d been told that gold was hard to come by in these lands. Making it even more valuable. The standard exchange rate was one gold coin to a hundred silver, or five times what it had been back in Lothas. Alice had handed over three gold marks, which was still ludicrous. The price was so ridiculous in fact Alice had considered Charming the dwarf. She’d held back despite Waldo encouraging her.

“I don’t keep that much silver on hand. If you’re leaving town, I’ll get it for you, otherwise it’ll be a credit,” Quartz shifted his focus back to Waldo. “So, what’ll it be?”

Waldo rubbed at his nose. “Ah, I don’t suppose you have any wine?” He was surprised when the dwarf nodded.

“I do, it’s what the elves drink and some of the farms hereabouts have vineyards.” He reached down beneath the bar and pulled out a clay jug with a cork stopper. “It’s five coppers for a cup, twenty-five for the whole bottle.”

“A cup will be fine.”

Nodding the dwarf took a metal goblet and filled it with red wine. As he did so Alice sighed and counted out five coins before handing them over to him.

“Is it really okay for her to just be naked like that?” Alice asked.

After ripping out one of her own claws Luna had transformed back into her humanoid body and hurried back here, running through the streets naked as a newborn.

“Dragons aren’t what you’d call shy,” Quartz told her. “She only wears clothes at all because we asked her to.”

Waldo lifted the cup to his nose and gave a cautious sniff. The scent was agreeable enough. He took a sip and was pleasantly surprised. It was no Ilsyrian Red, but it had a good, sweet taste to it. Waldo took a healthy swallow and set the goblet down.

“So, what can you tell me about her?”

Quartz shrugged and began wiping down his bar. “She showed up here about four years ago in her dragon form and told us this was her new nest. She also told us that she was hungry and that she could either eat four-legged meat or two-legged meat and that she didn’t care which. A couple idiots tried to argue with her. She ate them. She’s been here ever since.”

“Dragons don’t normally nest anywhere near human settlements. Their lairs are always well hidden and far from civilization.”

“She’s an exception I guess, she’s an exception in a lot of ways.”

Waldo nodded. There was certainly no denying that. “Why is she so badly injured?”

Another indifferent shrug. “Got in a fight with another dragon. She lost. Other dragon didn’t kill her, but she ripped out her wings. The wound won’t heal properly, and the wings won’t ever grow back so not only can she not fly, she’s always in pain. The whole reason she started to transform was cause it was less painful for her that way,” Quartz let out a sour grunt. “About a week after she arrived, she discovered alcohol.”

Waldo looked over to where she was curled around the barrel. “Helps with the pain I take it?”

The dwarf nodded. “Ale dulls it if she drinks enough barrels, whiskey is better. That only takes three or four pitchers to put her down. She told me I had to give her as much as she could drink every single day. I told her booze isn’t free and that if she wanted it, she had to pay.”

“You told a dragon she had to pay?” Alice sounded shocked. “Why didn’t she eat you?”

“Oh, she threatened to, still does as a matter of fact. But before she could scarf me down, I explained to her I run the only brewery here and that it’s a one dwarf operation. I’m the only one who knows how to make proper dwarven ale and whiskey. So, if she eats me good luck finding any more of the stuff.”

“And that worked?” Alice asked.

“Still here ain’t I?”

“Making demands of a dragon,” Waldo shook his head. “You are either very brave or very stupid.”

Alice and Gronk immediately turned to gawk at him with their mouths hanging open.

“What?”

Alice muttered something beneath her breath while Gronk patted the top of his head and told Waldo he was pretty.

“Anyway,” Quartz continued. “She figured what I was saying was true, so she agreed to pay for her booze. This is where she spends most of her time, getting drunk and crying about how unfair the world is.”

Waldo again glanced to where she was lying unconscious on the floor. “I never imagined a dragon could be so pathetic.”

“Best not say that when she’s awake and can hear you,” Quartz grunted. “Least she mostly keeps to herself when no one’s trying to challenge her or there’s a mage or a drow wanting to buy pieces of her. Dealing with her pain and getting enough silver to pay her tab is about all she really cares about.”

“I was a bit surprised the cost wasn’t higher. I know how rare and valuable dragon components are. She could demand quite a bit more.”

“Yeah, well dragons don’t really get the concept of gold and silver as currency. They mostly like them cause they’re shiny. I had to explain to her how people can buy and sell things with coin, so she doesn’t really get how much things are worth.”

“You haven’t explained it to her?” Alice asked. “I was a barmaid and I always made sure the customers knew what the prices were. Since she’s your customer why haven’t you been more helpful?”

He shrugged. “Cause when she runs out of coin, she just threatens to eat people unless they give her more. Since I get paid no matter what, it’s not my problem.”

Alice frowned. “That’s not very nice.”

“She calls me ‘dwarf’ and threatens to eat me most days. I don’t worry about being nice to her, I just want her to pay for her drinks and to not end up in her belly.”

“Very sensible,” Waldo said. He was staring at the snoring Luna and rubbing his chin.

“Darling,” Alice stood in front of him blocking his view. She crossed her arms and did not look happy. “You’re not thinking about doing something awful like making her a familiar while she’s asleep are you?”

“What?” Waldo asked in surprise. “Of course not, I wouldn’t even consider such a thing.”

Alice gave a relieved sigh. “Because you would never do something like that to someone when they’re helpless.”

“Oh no, I absolutely would. If I thought I could get away with it. But the way I usually mess up the Contract means she would devour me as soon as she sobered up.” Waldo sighed. “It’s shame, it would make things so much simpler.”

Alice shut her eyes and groaned as she rubbed her face.

Waldo turned back to Quartz. “So, it seems that dealing with her pain is her only concern.”

“Pretty much, except when knights show up here wanting to kill her, she only leaves here to eat, shit, or sleep.”

A slow smile crept across his face. “So, if someone could relieve her pain, she would be extremely grateful?”

Quartz snorted a laugh. “Grateful? She hasn’t shut up about it in four years. If you could do that she’d probably fall on her knees and worship you.”

“Good to know,” Waldo finished his wine. “You say she drinks three or four pitchers of whiskey a day?”

“That’s right, it puts her to sleep too.”

“Let me have a sample of dwarven whiskey then.”

Quartz raised a bushy eyebrow. “You sure about that, Master Rabbit? Besides Luna there, I mainly only sell it to dwarves and orcs. It’s a bit much for most humans.”

“I can handle one drink,” Waldo assured him.

Quartz shrugged. “It’s five copper. I’ll take it from your tab.”

He slapped down a shot glass in front of Waldo and pulled a pitcher out from behind the bar. The dwarf quickly and expertly filled the glass up to the rim with a clear brown liquid.

“Ah, darling? Whiskey is a lot stronger than wine or ale, and I mean regular whiskey. I’ve never seen real dwarven liquor before, but everyone says it’s a lot stronger than anything made by men.”

“Yes,” Waldo agreed. “I’ve read that as well. I just want to get some idea of how potent it is.” He lifted the shot glass up to his lips.

“Darling, I really-”

Waldo had never had any sort of liquor before but had been in plenty of taverns and knew how it was imbibed. He opened his mouth wide and tossed it in with one go. About a quarter of a heartbeat later his entire throat was on fire.

“Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!” Was the sound he made just before toppling off his chair and seeing the world turn to black.

XXX

When he woke up the following morning with a fire still in his throat and head splitting in two, he decided to categorize the potency of dwarven whiskey as, ‘exceptionally high.’

XXX

Waldo had always resented having a Talent in Healing. But, on rare occasions, he’d been truly grateful for it. That morning was one. After healing himself, listening to a long lecture from Alice, and getting something to eat, he informed Alice and Gronk that they were setting out.

“Let’s go.”

“Where are we going, master?”

“We need to search the nearby forest for some ingredients.”

The three of them exited Lunatown and headed into the woods. When Waldo had originally gotten the map from Valeria, he’d noticed that World’s End was further south than Torikai. At the time though that hadn’t mattered to him as much as how far east it was. Now though, he suspected this place was very far south, probably further south than Alter. In Kosinberg there’d been frozen clouds everywhere and he could see his own breath. He’d been told things would only get colder and that eventually the bay and nearby ocean would freeze solid.

Here though, it felt like mid fall. The weather was pleasant, but when the horrible ball of fire left the sky it got a tad chilly. There was no issue with his robes on, and it certainly feel anywhere near as cold. He could see ice and ‘snow’ covering the tops of the nearby mountains, but he doubted any frozen clouds would fall here.

This was fortunate as it not only meant he would not be miserable, but that the forest was green and still full of all sorts of vegetation. He was an expert on flora and fauna and knew exactly what to look for. The woods proved bountiful as he discovered all sorts of useful plants. Under a decayed cedar he found some spider root. There were patches of devil’s grass and some plump mandrakes. He scraped up willow bark, dug up ginger, and picked some healthy feverfew. He was a bit disappointed not to come across any parsalot or crimsonberries, but it wasn’t a real problem. He could definitely make do with what he had.

They’d strayed a few miles from Lunatown in their search for ingredients and had kept looking into the night. The moon was full and so there was plenty of reddish light to continue investigating. By the time Waldo was satisfied they decided to start a fire and set up camp rather than return.

Shortly after starting the fire an orc approached them. The creature had a brawny physique and like all orcs had beady eyes, a piggish snout, and tufts of thick hair sprouting from the back of the neck. Waldo was surprised when the orc did not attack them but instead introduced herself as Jessica and said she was from Lunatown. Jessica asked to join them and share their fire. Waldo was considering the request when Gronk’s belly rumbled. Gronk asked if he could eat the orc.

Waldo said to go right ahead.

Alice immediately started complaining for some reason. Waldo thought it was a bit selfish of her as Gronk was offering to take care of the evening meal for them. It turned out that roasted orc tasted like pork. It was a little fattier than Waldo preferred, but still very yummy. Alice refused to have any. Gronk was a good sport and let her rudeness ruin the meal. There was even enough left over to make a hearty breakfast.

XXX

Waldo ground up all the plants he had gathered and tossed them into a small pot. He poured in water and set it over a fire to boil. He’d added more spider root than anything else, but also plenty of devil’s grass too. Waldo was more sparing with the other ingredients, as too much would weaken the overall effect. The key to an effective potion was not only having the right ingredients but knowing the proper proportion of each.

Growing up in Castle Corpselover, Walter and some of his other siblings had mocked his spellcasting and abilities with magic. Even mother had made her disappointment obvious. But one thing no one had ever mocked was his ability to make potions. Like a master chef, Waldo had loved to study and experiment with different combinations to see what could be made from them. He had an inherent understanding of how various components could mix and create a new variation. Waldo had memorized the various recipes and would follow them, but he was allowed to improvise and had figured out what worked best with what. A pinch of ginger, two spoonful’s of ground willows bark, four petals of feverfew, two doses of devil’s grass, and a single serving of crushed mandrake went into the pot.

He took the dragon’s claw and scraped some of it off. Just a touch of a dragon’s flesh would make any potion far more effective.

When the concoction boiled, he spoke an enchantment and dispensed some of his mana into it.

“Est varos doloram levant orostro.”

The liquid inside the pot turned a lovely shade of pea green. Waldo stirred and waited for it to cool.

Gronk peered down and licking his lips. “It smells good, master. Can I have some?”

“This isn’t a snack, Gronk,” Waldo said. “This is a pain reliever, the strongest I’ve ever made. It’s guaranteed to numb any wound no matter how grievous. I’m sure once Luna takes it; she will be more than happy to be my familiar.”

“Can’t you just heal her?” Alice asked.

“Well, of course, but I’ll wait until after she becomes my familiar. Given her opinions I doubt she’d believe it possible. This potion is to convince her of my abilities. If I can alleviate her pain, then I’m sure she’ll agree to serve me in exchange for my healing.”

“That certainly sounds… reasonable.”

Waldo frowned at her. “Why are you saying it like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like you don’t expect it to work.”

“Darling, I said no such thing. I think your plan sounds very sensible.”

“You did it again!”

“I have no idea what you mean,” Alice said prim and proper.

“I think she’s just worried something will go horribly wrong again, master.”

“When do my plans ever go wrong?”

Alice and Gronk shared a look.

“Hey! I saw that!”

“Saw what?” Alice asked sounding as innocent as a two-year-old.

“You want some more orc, master? I’m going to eat the rest if you don’t.”

“Never mind,” Waldo sighed. The potion was cool enough. He poured it into a glass vial and shoved in a cork stopper. “Let’s go back to the town and find Luna.”

Chapter 4

So Disappointing

Finding Luna was not difficult. As soon as they returned to Lunatown they discovered that every person they asked knew exactly where her ‘lair’ was. Waldo was prepared to track her down using his spell again, but Alice went up to some locals and asked them. Along with directions they also received multiple warnings not to disturb her. Everyone they spoke to shared the opinion that it was best to keep a safe distance, and that waking her would be akin to asking for an immediate and gruesome death.

They found her in the spot they’d been directed to. Luna didn’t have an actual home; dragons weren’t bothered by cold or rain or heat. She was simply lying on some grass near a pit. As they approached the wind shifted and they were hit by a horrific smell. Waldo had to cover his nose to keep from gagging. As they drew near Waldo went to the edge of the pit to peer below. It was a circle and roughly ten feet deep. Inside were around twenty full grown pigs along with troughs filled with slop or water. A wooden ladder was planted into one of the dirt walls. The animals were milling about playing in the dirt and shit. Meanwhile Luna was lying on her back a short distance away, arms and legs askew, snoring louder than a chipmunk in heat. At some point she’d clothed herself and was now wearing what looked like a cloth sack with holes torn out for her head and arms.

Waldo was standing ten feet from her, staring down, and listening to the strangled racket coming out her mouth. This is a dragon, he thought to himself. The greatest of the Great Monsters. A creature so mighty it can lay waste to castles and cities and even bring whole nations to ruin. He sighed and muttered beneath his breath. “So disappointing.”

“Did you say something?” Alice asked.

“Nothing important.”

He couldn’t help but feel the Dark Powers were playing some sort of elaborate joke on him. In a way he knew he was incredibly fortunate to meet such an unusual specimen of the dragon race. If he’d run into a more typical beast he’d probably be doomed. Dragons weren’t known to bargain much; they preferred the tried and true method of just taking whatever they wanted. It normally required an army with dozens of mages to fight a dragon. He didn’t think he, Alice, and Gronk were up to the task. So, meeting a dragon who was already in the habit of making deals with people could definitely be seen as a stroke of good fortune.

Still, Waldo couldn’t keep from feeling disillusioned. Growing up he’d studied all the various monster races. Dragons were always exalted above the others. They’d brought down the Amoran Empire and shattered the world. Their blood was a virtual cure all and provider of eternal life. Their scales were stronger than steel, their fiery breath could melt armor, and ancient wyrms were strong enough to tear down mountains. No other creature that walked this world could compare with the might and majesty of a dragon.

Even the most powerful and knowledgeable grand master would never dream of fighting an adult dragon alone. That was why when his mother had told him he could not return home without a dragon or dragon’s egg, he’d known the Council had wanted him dead. It would have been impossible for a grand master like his mother, so what hope did he have? He was determined to try regardless, but he’d understood his chances were near zero.

Yet here he was, with a real live dragon right in front of him. One he was sure he could make a bargain with. Surely… the Dark Powers were smiling on him. Surely.

As he thought that Luna turned onto her side and began scratching her ass.

“Darling? Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?” Alice whispered. She and Gronk were both hanging back a couple steps behind Waldo. “She’s a dragon.”

“Yes, which is the entire reason we’re here.”

“Darling, I know there are a lot of sayings in your country. One from mine is, ‘Don’t wake a sleeping dragon.’ That’s what you’re literally about to do. Couldn’t you rethink this?”

“It’s fine,” Waldo said. “I’m sure as soon as I give her my potion she’ll be overjoyed.”

“Right,” Alice sighed. “Since she seemed so pleasant the other day.”

Waldo nodded. “Exactly. Gronk, go ahead and wake her for me.”

“No thanks, I think I’ll pass.”

“Huh?” Waldo turned back with a startled expression. “Gronk, as your master I command you to wake Luna for me.”

“Awww, that’s cute, master.” Gronk gently patted the top of his head. “I like it when you try to be all manly.”

Waldo glared up at the ogre who was a couple feet taller than he was. “Why are you suddenly being disobedient? You didn’t have an issue fighting in an arena or attacking a cyclops for me.”

“Fighting an angry cyclops is one thing, messing with a girl dragon?” Gronk shivered. “My momma didn’t raise any stupid children.”

Waldo glanced over at Alice but knew better than to even ask. This was what came of spoiling his familiars. He straightened his back and sent his ogre an intimidating look.

“Gronk, I know I’ve been indulgent with you, but I am still the master and you are the servant. If you do not obey me there will be consequences, terrible consequences!” He scowled and tried to make the look fearsome, like mother did. She could turn a servant white with nothing more than a glance.

Gronk stared down at his stern face for a couple heartbeats before giggling and turning back to Alice. “Isn’t he just the cutest?”

“I know,” she replied with a girlish sigh.

Waldo made a mental note to try and study the bonding ritual so he could redo their Contracts. As he pondered this, he heard a drawn-out yawn. Luna stretched out like a cat waking from a nap. Her eyes flitted open.

“What do you assholes want?”

Waldo struggled not to grimace and forced himself to sound pleasant. “Hello, again.” He bowed to her. Gronk followed his example with a clumsy bow of his own, while Alice gave a swift and graceful curtsy. “It is a great pleasure to see you once more, Luna.”

“What do you want?” She got to her feet and stretched. “If it’s blood you can forget it. You already got a claw. Your sort usually disappears as soon as they get something from me. If you’re still here that just means you want something else. What is it?”

“Well, I have come here to offer you-”

She yawned and scratched her ass again. “You know what? I’m hungry.”

With that she stripped off the cloth sack she was wearing. Then walked past him to the edge of the pit. Without a sound the naked, crimson skinned girl leapt down. The instant she did the pigs below began to let loose ear-splitting squeals and tried to stampede away from her. She ran up to the nearest one, lifted a fist and brought it down. The animal’s head was squashed like a pea beneath a hammer. Luna wasted no time and squatted over her kill. She put her face down and began to rip out mouthfuls. She did not transform, she remained in her girlish body tearing apart the pig’s carcass and stuffing it into her mouth. All the while the remaining pigs were squealing and pressing themselves into the side of the pit, trying to stay as far away from her as physically possible.

Watching this Alice put a hand over her mouth. “How disgusting.”

For his part Waldo shrugged. “Not everyone has good table manners.” Having spent many years watching a zombie eat this was nothing out of the ordinary.

Gronk licked his lips. “Damn, now I’m getting hungry.”

“You had an entire orc,” Waldo reminded him. “You can at least wait until lunch time.”

Despite her apparent size Luna devoured the entire pig, leaving nothing behind, not even the hooves. That done she strolled over to the water trough and dunker her head, neck, arms, and most of her chest in. She then straightened and shook herself off. Luna leapt up and out of the pit. Except for her muddy feet she was now clean, though her hair was damp. The girl slipped on the sack cloth so that she was no longer naked.

“So, what do you want, mage?” Luna spoke as if nothing was out of the ordinary. For her it likely wasn’t.

Waldo smiled and ignored her rudeness. “I understand you suffer from constant pain. I happen to be a very skilled potion maker.” From out of one of his pockets he produced the vial. “This is my most potent pain reliever. Please try it.”

She gave a snort and there was a miniature puff of smoke. “What do you want for it?”

“It’s a gift.” Once she saw it would eliminate her pain then it would be time to bargain.

“Hffff,” she snatched the vial from his hand and yanked out he cork. She quaffed it down in a single go. “Minty,” she tossed the glass vial aside.

“How is your pain?” He waited for her to tell him it was completely gone and to rain down praise upon him. Perhaps fall to her knees and weep with joy.

She worked her shoulder and twisted her neck from side to side. “A little better I suppose. Have you got six or seven more?”

“What?” He gasped.

She must have found his reaction funny as she laughed. “Did you expect it to cure me or something? Tell you what, make six and I’ll trade you a scale for them. And make them taste more like willow if you can.”

Luna walked away, heading in the general direction of the tavern. Waldo simply stood there with his jaw hanging open.

Alice came over and put a warm hand on his arm. “Well darling, you tried. I guess we’ll have to just move on. It’s an awful shame.”

He shook his head. “No, if that isn’t good enough, I’ll just have to make something better.”

“Didn’t you say that was the strongest pain reliever you’d ever made?”

“I never said that.”

“Yes, you did. Gronk?”

The ogre nodded his head vigorously. “You totally said it, master.”

He ignored them and began to follow Luna. Alice and Gronk shared a resigned glance and fell in behind him.

XXX

They were soon back at the Drunken Porker. Luna was at her usual table with an open cask of dwarven whiskey. She scooped in a mug and sat there by herself emptying it. People of various races entered and had some drinks themselves. All of them sat down at the bar or at a table a good distance away from the inebriated dragon. No one tried to talk to her and made a point to keep their distance. From how everyone behaved this was routine.

Waldo was seated at the bar with a goblet of wine staring at the crimson skinned girl as she drank herself into a stupor. Alice was seated next to him while Gronk was on the other side leaning against the bar.

“I don’t understand it,” Waldo muttered. “I know what it’s like to fail with spell casting, but I’ve always been an excellent brewer of potions. That pain reliever I made is the strongest recipe available in my family’s library. It should have removed her pain completely.”

Alice patted his shoulder. “It’s okay, darling. The important thing is you tried your best. I guess there’s nothing for us to do but leave and go somewhere far, far, far, far away from here.”

“No,” Waldo answered instantly. “Finding a dragon is next to impossible. I’m not leaving this place without her.”

“If you say so, darling,” Alice said sounding less than enthused.

“I still don’t understand it! My potion should absolutely have worked!”

The dwarven barkeep chuckled.

Waldo turned to Quartz and raised an eyebrow. “Is there something you wish to share with me, master barkeeper?”

“Only that your potions won’t work. Least not like you expect.”

“I know you are a dwarven brewmaster, I didn’t realize you were also an expert on magical potions.”

“I’m not, but I do know a bit about dragons,” the dwarf jabbed a thumb in Luna’s direction. “Any potion made to suit a human won’t mean much to a dragon.”

Waldo stiffened. “Obviously. That’s why I used the strongest pain reliever possible and added ground dragon’s claw to increase its effectiveness. Anything stronger would be dangerous, possibly lethal.”

“That so?” The dwarven brewmaster asked. “What do you know about dwarven whiskey?”

Waldo grimaced. “That I’m never drinking it again.”

Quartz laughed. “Anything else, Master Rabbit?”

Waldo frowned and thought for a moment. “It’s made from fermented calispar mushrooms, has a much higher alcohol content than human brewed liquors, and is rarely drunk by non-dwarves.”

Quartz grunted and looked a bit disappointed. “That’s more than most humans know.”

“I had a most thorough education.”

“Well, anyway, reason we don’t usually let people who aren’t dwarves drink it is cause it’s dangerous for them. A few humans can handle a mug or two of our ale, but the whiskey?” The dwarf put his head back, wrapped both hands about his own throat, slid his tongue out and pretended to roll up his eyes. “Dwarves have bellies made out of boiled leather, we can eat raw basilisk and ask for seconds, but even we have to go easy on our whiskey.”

“Then why did you let me drink it?” Waldo demanded.

Quartz shrugged. “I did warn you, but you still wanted to try it. That’s about as much as you can ask from a bartender. It’s not my place to turn down business.”

Waldo made a mental note to be more cautious when dealing with dwarves from now on.

Quartz reached down behind his bar and pulled out a wooden mug that he slammed down in front of Waldo. It was a foot tall and would hold about as much liquid as half a pitcher.

“This is what a dwarf uses to drink ale. Me and most of my kind can handle a dozen of these and still be standing.” He reached over again and then slapped a shot glass down beside the huge mug. The shot glass was the same size as the one Waldo had used. “This is what we use to drink whiskey. The most shots I ever seen a dwarf drink of real whiskey was ten. When old Ironspur did it he passed right out and didn’t wake up again for three days. Damn near killed him. If he’d had eleven, I expect it would have.” The bartender tapped the mug with the shot glass. “Twenty of these will fit into this. And about eighty mugs will drain a barrel.”

Waldo understood. He looked back over to the corner where Luna was. She had one of the massive mugs and was pouring whiskey down her throat.

“Two mugs to a pitcher, it takes three or four pitchers to put her to sleep, and she’ll be fine come the morning. That’s between a hundred and twenty to a hundred and sixty shots of whiskey. Still think your potion is going to do the job?”

Waldo sat there and said nothing.

Chapter 5

The Heroic White Mage

Waldo and company had staked out the land next door to Luna’s pit. They pitched their tents and the spot simply became theirs. Apparently in Lunatown this was the normal procedure. People could simply claim an empty piece of land and start building on it. The place simply didn’t seem to have any sort of real government. Whatever Luna said went, so she could be seen as Lunatown’s ruler. The problem was she didn’t really care about much besides eating, sleeping, and getting drunk. There were armed guards who watched the gate and more or less kept order, but it wasn’t quite clear who they answered to. It appeared that there were occasionally meetings where all the residents would gather together to argue and yell at each other. At the end of these ‘discussions’ the people would yell out that they were either for or against whatever it was they’d been arguing about. Whichever side yelled the loudest won.

Waldo considered this irrational and stupid and little short of anarchy. If he’d cared enough, he could have enlightened them as to how the strong should rule the weak and why order needed to be imposed from above so that society could function appropriately. The fact everyone did as Luna said proved they all recognized the concept of power equaling authority. They merely needed to apply the principle to its natural conclusion. If they would simply fight and kill each other until they established a proper hierarchy to serve underneath Luna a logical and rational government could be established. Unfortunately for the locals Waldo couldn’t be bothered to properly instruct them.

In any case, Waldo now effectively ‘owned’ the land next to Luna’s pig pit. It wasn’t as if there was any competition as there were no other buildings nearby and the only times people came over were to deliver more pigs and pig feed. Alice and Gronk both complained about the smell. He told them they would get used to it; it wasn’t as if he enjoyed it either. But it was important to remain as close to his ultimate goal as possible.

For her part, Luna pretty much ignored him and his familiars. Her pattern was to wake up at some point in the late morning. Devour a pig, head off to drink at the Drunken Porker, and then return ‘home’ to fall into a stupor until the following day. Waldo and company would trail after her, trying to engage the dragon in conversation and try to build some sort of relationship. Waldo had some vague hopes that if he spent enough time around her, she might somehow end up as his familiar. This was not exactly a plan, but it seemed the best option until he could devise some new strategy. Luna proved somewhat less than amenable to these efforts.

“Why do you keep pestering me?” Luna asked him one day as she was walking to the tavern. “Your kind usually runs away as fast as they can as soon as they get what they want.”

“Ah, actually I was hoping that if you get to know me you might grow fond me. I’ve been told I can be quite likeable.”

“You mean like a pet?”

“Well… that might be a start at least. In time perhaps we could be friends.”

She laughed. “In a thousand years maybe. Too bad you’re not an elf. I don’t need pets and I don’t need friends. Especially not ones who die in a few years. The only thing I really need is alcohol.”

Luna mostly ignored him, expect when she asked if he wanted to buy another claw or maybe a fang. Most days were spent at the Drunken Porker watching Luna drink and complain about everything. Gronk and Alice kept suggesting they give up and move on, but that was not an option.

His original effort had used the strongest recipe he’d known. Since he’d lost his original spellbook and all the recipes within it he’d had to rely on memory. He couldn’t be certain he had the exact recipe. But unlike when he’d tried to brew love potion, Waldo had far more experience with healing and healing related potions. He was at least certain he’d put in all the correct ingredients. Waldo had enough faith in his own brewing talents to know that if he’d made any mistakes, they’d have been with the amounts used. Even if he’d made an error the overall effect would have been minor. The problem was Luna’s constitution.

All magical potions were naturally formulated to work on humans or demihumans. While there were differences between the races; elves could live thousands of years, dwarves had greater tolerances to alcohol and poisons, goblins were stupid, and orcs were delicious. A potion that affected one would normally affect another in the same way, and usually to a similar degree. Some monsters though had completely different biologies. Vampires were immune to poison. Ogres could eat tree branches. Elementals didn’t require food of any sort.

Dragons had a high natural resistance to all magic and magical effects. So, while the potion Waldo had made had worked, it hadn’t worked well enough. The obvious answer was to simply produce far more of the pain reliever. If one didn’t do the trick then maybe six would, or eight or ten or a dozen or however many it took. Waldo was certain he could find enough ingredients in the forest to mass produce the potions. The problem with that course of action was that it wouldn’t sufficiently impress Luna. If she had to gulp down say ten potions to make her pain stop for a day was that really any better than drinking mug after mug of whiskey? It wouldn’t leave her in a stupor, but would that be enough of a difference? Handing her one vial and solving her problem was impressive. Handing over ten or twelve? She would probably view each as just equivalent to a mug of dwarven whiskey. Would the minty taste and lack of hangovers be enough to convince her to allow him to heal her? Somehow, Waldo doubted it.

No, it wasn’t good enough to hand her an armful of potions. He needed to produce one potion that would remove all her pain. Only that would be remarkable enough to persuade Luna to let him heal her. But how do I brew a pain reliever that potent? Waldo wondered. He was brilliant. He’d invented permanent love potion after all, could anyone but a genius do that? (Of course, his life would be better if he hadn’t, but that was beside the point.) So far as he knew no one in the history of magical brewing had ever made something specifically for a dragon. This was completely new ground. The effect of the recipe would need to be a minimum eight to ten times more powerful, something that would instantly kill a man. He would need to invent something from scratch. Look for unique ingredients he would never consider normally. Use the strongest possible booster to squeeze out every last bit of effect. He might even need to recite a different enchantment. He would have to come up with something completely original. Many would call that impossible. Luckily, Waldo had been doing the impossible ever since setting out on his First Quest.

Waldo believed that given his incredible genius it could be done. It would take time though. In the meanwhile, he would follow Luna during her daily routine and try to ‘bond’ with her. So, he and his companions were in the Drunken Porker when Quartz brought something up.

XXX

“Master Rabbit, would you and your friends be willing to help in a search? Someone has gone missing and people want to go look for her.”

“No,” Waldo said immediately and sipped his wine.

“Yes, absolutely we will help!” Alice said right on top of him.

Waldo sent his wife an annoyed look but did not correct her. For some reason, the dwarf accepted Alice’s answer over his and continued.

“That’s much appreciated. Someone went missing in the forest about a week ago. I’d tell you to be wary, but you’re a magic user and you have a couple Great Monsters with you.”

Waldo nodded. If he could deal with a rampaging cyclops, he wasn’t going to worry about anything else.

“Are the forests here that dangerous?” Alice asked.

“Not usually, having her here,” he motioned to where Luna was getting snockered, “helps, but random monsters can always wander in. We also get tribes of goblins or orcs coming through the pass sometimes.”

“I see, well I hope this person is all right and that we can help. So, who is it?”

“Her name is Jessica; she is a single orc mother of sixteen. She just had a litter this past fall. She was out in the woods doing a little hunting and gathering to help feed her children. No one’s seen or heard from her and we all fear the worst. I hope she is okay; Jessica is good mother and has a great sense of humor. We’d all be heartbroken if…” Quartz paused. “Something the matter? You look sick all of a sudden.”

Alice’s face had indeed gone pale. “N… No, I’m fine.”

Gronk leaned forward a bit. There was a stream of drool dribbling down his chin. “So, what’s going to happen to those sixteen tender and delicious little orclings? Can we have them?”

Alice rounded on the ogre and yelled at him that they were not going to touch those children. Waldo relaxed and was relieved to know they wouldn’t have to waste time going on a pointless errand.

“Actually, there’s no need for a search. You see- mmph?!”

Alice slapped a hand over his mouth and spoke in a rush. “We have no idea what happened to Jessica and we’ll be more than happy to go look for her!”

XXX

There were no great empires or nations in the lands near the Titanos mountains. Instead, there were many small, petty kingdoms scattered all about. There were also large numbers of monsters and demi humans. It was very much the wild frontier and the far distant edge of the Shattered Lands. Major events happening thousands of miles away would not even be rumor here until years later. Locally, there was plenty of trade between countries and tribes and gossip spread quickly. Apparently, no White Mage had ever actually visited this part of the world. But their propaganda had. Even here on the very edge of civilization people had heard the disinformation about how they supposedly helped people and fought monsters without ever asking for compensation. Avalon and her minions were the heroes in many ridiculous stories and rather popular. It was not long before word got out that a White Mage had finally arrived with a pair of Great Monster familiars was in residence in Lunatown.

A couple weeks after his arrival three poorly dressed men stumbled through the gates asking for the White Mage living there. They were directed to the Drunken Porker. As soon as they arrived and spotted Waldo the men fell to their knees before him.

“Master! We beg you to help us!”

“Huh?” Waldo looked over at them while remaining seated at the bar.

“We’ve come here all the way from the village of Istval to plead for your help!”

Not only Waldo, but Alice, Gronk, Quartz, and all the customers in the tavern were staring at these poor fellows who were down on their knees with hands clasped. (Luna ignored the scene and just kept drinking.)

Waldo turned in his seat but did not get up. “Sorry, I’m terribly busy at the moment. Also, in Avalon it’s customary to at least introduce yourself before begging favors.”

“I apologize,” their apparent leader said. “I am Mikael,” he pointed to the man on his left. “This is Romi and he is Torval. We’ve ridden all the way from our village to seek your help.”

Waldo grinned. “I see my fame precedes me. Well, I am Waldo Rabbit of Avalon. This is my lovely wife Alice and my devoted servant Gronk. I wish you Unity, Justice, and Peace and all that. Now, what is all this about?”

“Our village has been taken over by a bandit named Zelwas and his men! He is stealing every bit of food and doing as he pleases with the women of our village! He and his men beat anyone who gives them any sort of trouble! The children cry at night because their bellies are empty. None of the other towns or villages will help us and we’re too few to do anything. Help us Master Rabbit, you are our only hope!”

Waldo slowly nodded. “I understand. Naturally, learning of my fearsome reputation you sought me out to kill these bandits for you.”

Mikael and the others nodded vehement agreement. “Exactly! We’ve heard of the White Mages who fight for justice and peace! Who protect the innocent and weak and never ask for anything in return! When we heard of you, we decided to come and beg for your aid!”

“Did any of those stories mention we are plotting to take over the world?”

The three men stared back at him in confusion.

From her seat Alice sighed. “Darling, these poor men need help. Could you please take this seriously?”

“Oh, all right I suppose,” Waldo said. “How many bandits are there?”

“Thirty,” Mikael said.

“Are there any mages among them? Do any of them carry magical weapons?”

“No, they’re just common bandits with swords and spears.”

“I see.” Waldo considered it. “Thirty bandits shouldn’t be too difficult. Very well, I’ll accept your request.”

“Thank you, master!”

“Really, darling?” Alice asked sounding suspicious.

“Really, master?” Gronk asked in surprise.

“Well, we don’t have anything better to do right now,” Waldo looked at the men still on their knees. “So how much can you afford to pay me?”

“Pay?” Mikael sounded confused.

Alice groaned and Gronk chuckled.

“You don’t expect me to do this for free do you?”

“Ah, all the stories say White Mages always help for free.”

“Well, those stories are wrong. We’re incredibly greedy and selfish and always take as much as we can. So, how much as you can afford?”

Mikael and his companions looked at each other. “Forgive me, master. But we have nothing to spare. We barely raise enough food to feed ourselves. That is why we are so desperate, whenever these bandits finally move on, we’ll be facing starvation.”

“Oh, I understand. In that case I won’t ask for any coin.”

“Thank you!”

“Don’t thank him yet,” Alice muttered beneath her breath.

“I’ll simply take five of your children as slaves. Not only will that serve as fair compensation for my services, but it will help with your food situation. You are welcome.”

The three men stared back wide eyed in stunned silence.

“I knew it,” Alice sighed. “Darling, you can’t ask people to just hand over their children to you.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll settle for three adult women instead. But I get to pick, and no ugly ones.”

“Wh… What?”

At this point Alice placed a hand casually on Waldo’s shoulder and began squeezing like an iron vice.

“Darling, you really shouldn’t joke at such a serious time. Forgive his sense of humor, of course we’ll help you and it will be free of charge. Isn’t that right, darling?”

“Ow! Ow! Y… Yes, that’s right.”

Alice let go of him and he rubbed his shoulder as the three men jumped to their feet and shouted about how grateful they were.

XXX

Waldo, Alice, and Gronk accompanied the men back to their village and quickly massacred all the bandits. It was every bit as boring and pointless as Waldo had expected it to be. If that weren’t bad enough Alice insisted, he also heal all the sick and injured villagers. Right out in public! Where people could see! All their pointless words of thanks and appreciation couldn’t begin to make up for that sort of indignity. The only small positives from this were that he got to ‘educate’ the village on what Avalon was plotting and they were able to collect all the weapons that might at least be worth something. On the way back to Lunatown they searched the forest to gather more ingredients. They found some nice mandrake and devil’s grass, so Waldo decided the trip hadn’t been a total waste.  He just hoped there would be no more stupid undertakings and he could focus on more important activities. Like watching Luna every moment, she was awake or asleep.

XXX

Of course, the Dark Powers were not going to be that kind to him.

Over the following weeks this happened several more times. People simply showed up in Lunatown looking for Waldo expecting him to save them from some disaster that had nothing to do with him. Help, help, a tribe of goblins is attacking us! Help, help, a pack of wolves is slaughtering all our sheep! Help, help our local lord is raping the land and pillaging the women! And the worst of it was all these people really expected him to save them out of the goodness of his heart! They had no idea how insulting they were!

Alice would bully him into helping and so he was forced to go to different remote places and slaughter animals, monsters, and minor lords. All without asking for any sort of reward. All the cheers and thanks didn’t matter to him in the least. He supposed he was gaining fame and building up his reputation. But even that wasn’t really satisfying as instead of inspiring fear and terror he was seen as… heroic. Oh, he could only imaging how disappointed mother would be if she found out.

During this time Waldo didn’t accomplish much besides stockpiling ingredients and raising a bit of coin selling wolf pelts and captured weapons. He still wasn’t sure how to make a pain-relieving potion for a dragon. Luna continued to ignore them as they wasted most of their time following her about. As months passed Waldo found himself growing bored with the routine and longing for distraction.

XXX

One day, as they were returning from the tavern, Waldo approached a teen with curly blond hair and ears that were somewhat pointed. Waldo smiled wide and held his hands out.

“Young man, if you have some time would you like to hear about the Great Rabbit and all the things he can do for you?”

“Huh?”

“No! No! No!” Alice ran over and grabbed Waldo by the ear. “You are NOT starting another cult!”

“But I’m bored,” Waldo whined.

“I don’t care! Boredom is no excuse for starting a new religion!”

“Actually,” the youngster said. “I wouldn’t mind listening if you think this rabbit god could help me.”

Waldo looked excited but Alice began dragging him away. “The love of the rabbit unto you!”

XXX

It was about a month and a half since their arrival. They were at the Drunken Porker when, yet another annoying person came seeking Waldo’s help. He was a bit better dressed than most of the others. He wore well maintained chainmail and had a fiery red cloak. He strode into the tavern and introduced himself as a royal courier in service to his majesty King Danut Ghenadie, sovereign and ruler of Alazan.

“His majesty asks for your assistance in rescuing his daughter, her royal highness the Crown Princess Ilyena Ghenadie.”

Mention of a king and a princess got Waldo’s attention. “Can I assume there’s a huge reward for this?” As soon as he saw the courier hesitate, he knew he was going to be disappointed.

“The kingdom is rich in honor but not treasure I’m afraid.”

“Let me guess, the king was hoping I’d do this for free since I’m a White Mage?”

“Well… yes.”

“I’ll decline then,” Waldo turned his attention back to his wine.

“Darling,” Alice said with excitement. “This is a chance for you to rescue a princess! It’s like something straight out of a tale from old! How can you refuse?”

“It’s really not hard.”

“I beg you to, reconsider,” the messenger pleaded. “Our princess is his majesty’s sole surviving child. If you were to save her you would earn the king’s eternal gratitude.”

“How much is that worth in gold?”

“Darling, is gold all you care about?”

“No, I’d also be interested in silver, slaves, magical items, spellbooks, or scrolls.”

“Would it make a difference that the princess is being held by an evil sorcerer?”

Waldo turned back towards the man. “It might, tell me about him.”

“He calls himself Ahab the Dread and has a keep carved into a hillside. He summons all sorts of wild animals to serve and protect him; tigers, lions, bears, wolves, and other beasts obey his will. He was able to kidnap the princess and now holds her prisoner within his fortress. He demands our king abdicate so he can marry her and rule the kingdom! His majesty has sent out parties of knights and soldiers, but they were all annihilated by Ahab’s minions. The king has no mages in his service and so we turn to you. Please, Master Rabbit, help us save our princess!”

Waldo frowned. “Tigers, lions, bears, and wolves? He isn’t even summoning monsters? He’s using ordinary animals and that’s too much for you? Are your people incompetent?”

“He has hundreds of them! The handful of survivors all agree they are ferocious beasts, every one of them!”

“It still doesn’t say much that you can’t deal with common animals.” Waldo was reminded of his brother Walter who’d always favored packs of wolves. Among fellow summoners he’d been viewed as good, but not exceptional. Elite summoners could summon genuine monsters such as goblins and orcs. (Though not Great Monsters.)

Alice suddenly pointed to a corner of the tavern and gave a shout. “Look! A rabbit!”

“Where?!” Waldo leapt up and gave a panicked cry.

The courier, Quartz, all the other patrons, and even Luna looked at him in surprise. Waldo caught an amused grin on Alice’s face and felt satisfaction coming through the Bond. He sat back down and sent her a glare.

“We are a small kingdom and our resources limited,” the courier continued as soon as Waldo was again seated. “But surely you could deal with them, Master Rabbit. You are a White Mage! Your people are legendary for their power and sense of justice! With your powerful magics and mighty,” he glanced nervously at Gronk. “Allies.” Gronk winked and blew the man a kiss. “I… I’m sure you could defeat this dark wizard and save our princess!”

“Well, obviously,” Waldo said with a casual wave of his hand. “But that’s not the point. From what you’re saying this Ahab is a Summoner. I don’t have a Talent for Summoning, so I wouldn’t get anything useful from his spellbook. Besides, I already have three.”

“Ahab the Dread has been a scourge for many years and has plagued a dozen countries,” the messenger said. “If you were to defeat him you would be a hero, not just to Alazan but to all the neighboring lands.”

Waldo sighed. “Two points. First, the proper term for any spellcaster is ‘mage’ not ‘wizard’ or ‘sorcerer.’ Second, gratitude is wonderful, but you can’t spend it. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

“Darling, I thought having a great reputation was important to you.”

“It is, but I’m starting to get the wrong sort of reputation. People know my name, but they’re calling me heroic and generous and kind. Do you think I want that following me home?”

Luna snorted a laugh. “You sound a little bit like a drow.”

“Thank you!” It was the first praise Luna had ever given him. Maybe stalking her all day long was beginning to work!

The messenger was twisting about. “Our kingdom is not wealthy, but I am sure his majesty would find some way to show you his appreciation. Perhaps not in coin but-”

“Slaves? Arcane books? Magical items?”

The messenger sucked in his lips. “Ah, I was thinking about horses or livestock.”

“Got any yummy orcs?” Gronk asked. He rubbed some drool from the corner of his mouth.

The royal courier stared at the ogre and inched back.

Alice placed a hand gently on Waldo’s arm. As soon as she did, he grimaced.

“Darling, I think we should help this girl. Rescuing a princess is like something straight out of a tale of old!”

“You do know most of those stories are just propaganda, don’t you?”

Alice gave him a rigid smile and began to slowly squeeze his arm. “Darling, I am sure you could find it in your heart to help this poor girl, even if there isn’t a great reward.”

Waldo grimaced. He knew damn well how this was going to end. He still decided to try and reason with her. “Alice, this sounds like a lot of trouble. Why should I bother if there’s nothing in it for me?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do!”

“Alice, I’m being serious.”

She growled and began squeezing harder.

Waldo clamped down his jaw and tried not to whimper. The courier cast confused looks between the two.

“Ah, Ahab has been raiding the countryside for many years. I’m sure his fortress is filled with all sorts of treasure. Naturally, all of it would be yours once he is gone. Plus, I am sure the king will also offer you some type of reward as well.”

“Hear that, darling?” Alice said trying to sound kind as she deliberately crushed his forearm. “You can be a hero and get lots of treasure too. Won’t you agree to help?”

“Er, ah, yes, yes sounds like a great idea.” Alice immediately let go of him and he gasped in relief.

“Wonderful!” The courier said. “I’ll lead you to Ahab’s lair! I’m certain you’ll be able to rescue Princess Ilyena!”

Waldo rubbed his arm and cast a minor healing enchantment. “Great, I am sure it won’t be a massive waste of my time.”

Chapter 6

Family Conversations

When Lilith returned from the Council meeting Hollister was there to greet her, like always.

“Welcome back, mistress. May I-”

Lilith stormed past him without so much as a glance. As soon as the servants spotted her, they ducked down side corridors or turned back the way they’d come. When the undead patrols stopped to bow low, she rushed by them without notice. She climbed the steps all the way to the fifth floor. She hurried out onto the main corridor and then went down the second side corridor. Halfway she turned onto a different hallway, one that curved about like a fishhook. It came to an abrupt end and there, hanging on the wall, was a six-foot-tall mirror without a reflection. Within the glass there was nothing but grey emptiness.

“Daughter! I want to talk to you! Now!”

She fully expected prompt and immediate obedience. But the mirror remained empty. As nothing happened Lilith glared at the object. She had never liked defiance, and having it come from a family member (and one whose soul she’d summon back to Earth) made it no sweeter. Well, sweet or not, she wanted to talk to her daughter. She spat out the words she knew Gwendolyn wanted to hear.

“Daughter, will you come and talk to me?”

For a minute or two the mirror remained still. Lilith’s temper began fraying and she was on the verge of cursing like a young wife who’d suddenly discovered her husband and sister were playing shepherd and innocent sheep together. Fortunately, before her patience had run dry colors began to swirl within the grey. Those colors soon coalesced into the form of a pale girl in black robes with her throat slashed. The girl wore an amused grin as she rasped out a greeting.

“Hello, mother.”

“Gwen, do you know why I am here?”

Her daughter tilted her head and her grin widened. “You wish to tell me how much you love me?”

“I want to know why Torikai has declared war on us!”

Gwen chuckled. “That was my other guess.”

“Don’t play the fool, it doesn’t suit you.”

Gwen straightened her neck but continued smiling. “Will you punish me, mother?”

Lilith let out a most unladylike grunt. She had no power to either punish or reward Gwen.

“Did you know Torikai would declare war?”

“I did.”

“Then why didn’t you warn me?”

A childish giggle bubbled out of Gwen’s lips. “Oh mother, you already know the answer to that.”

“Do NOT tell me it was because you were bored!”

Her daughter clicked her tongue. “Mother, if I had told you Torikai would be our enemy what would you have done differently?”

Lilith opened her mouth to deliver a sharp retort when she realized something.

“The answer you are looking for mother, is nothing. Even if I had told you the consequences you still would have destroyed Pontian. You still would have chased the rebels over the border. You still would have forced King Doran into joining the Alliance and sparking this war. Nothing would have changed, so why shouldn’t I have just a little bit of fun?”

“This is no game, daughter! Do you understand that because Torikai is our enemy now we have to abandon our original strategy for this war? We will have to march our armies hundreds of miles and defeat more than a dozen nations before we even face the White Army!”

“Yes, it will be quite exciting.”

“This war is not being fought for your entertainment, daughter.”

Gwen nodded. “I know that, mother. It’s all for Waldo’s sake. Thousands upon thousands will die, whole cities will burn, and the world will be torn apart. Just so Waldo can come home someday. What a wonderful mother you are.”

“If you also want your brother to return you should help me rather than try to amuse yourself.”

“You needn’t worry, mother. I can do both.”

With a rasping laugh her daughter’s form began to melt away until the mirror was once again an empty grey.

“Why do all my children make my life more difficult?” Lilith muttered. As she stomped off Lilith was quite sure that most mothers never felt this way.

XXX

“This is boring, Aunt Lilith,” Hera said.

They were down in the crypts surrounded by piles of bones and skulls. Lilith was giving her a lesson in necromancy. Her niece was already quite skilled, so the focus was on increasing her efficiency with the magic. Once a necromancer raised undead, she could keep them under her permanent control at the cost of a miniscule drain on her mana. The more skilled and practiced you were the smaller the cost became. The only reason Lilith could summon her vast horde was thanks to years of mind-numbing practice. Hera would raise undead only to unmake them and raise them again. Over and over, she would repeat the lesson until her mana was near exhausted.

“Practice often is, now continue.”

With an obedient nod Hera held out her wand. “Evis mortis mara est vive.”

The spell complete, some of the bones began to quiver and shake. Clack. Clack. Clack. They snapped together, femurs inserted themselves into pelvises, humerus bones ratcheted into bony shoulders, and skulls popped onto necks. Eventually, seven human skeletons assembled themselves from the various pieces. They stood and faced Hera, ready to carry out any command.

“You’re up to seven now. When you first came here you could only raise five. Excellent progress, Hera.”

“Thank you, Aunt Lilith!” The girl practically beamed with pride.

“Of course, when I was your age, I could raise thirty.”

Lilith saw the girl practically deflate right in front of her. Hera had a strong Talent in Necromancy and was willing to work hard. But she also thought a little too well of herself. Lilith was a firm believer in using one part carrot and three parts whip.

“Now, unmake them and begin again.”

Hera held out her wand. “Nunc.”

The seven skeletons crumbled back into a pile of bones. Before she recast her necromancy, Lilith asked her a question.

“You contacted all the branches and told them to raise the levees and be ready to march within three weeks’ time?”

“Of course, Auth Lilith.” The girl’s reply was instant. “Every branch head promised to be ready with as many troops as possible, living and dead.”

Lilith simply nodded; she hadn’t expected anything else. When Alteroth went to war, it was not a swift process. Only the house troops could fight immediately. All the branch families would need some time to equip the townsfolk or villagers and give them at least a modicum of training before coming to join her and the core of the Corpselover army. Her governors all had house troops that could whip the new recruits into some sort of shape. The overseers who lived in the countryside would have a much harder time of it. All the branch families would bring a contingent of undead as well. Every head of a branch would want to assemble the largest force possible in hopes of earning her approval. So, any elderly or frail people living under them were about to meet their ends and join her undead ranks.

Along with the bodies and equipment, the branch families would also have to provide wagons and food supplies to keep her living soldiers fed. They could of course loot the lands they traveled through, but it was winter. The lands north of Alteroth would not have an abundance of foodstuffs either in the wild or in the fields. Supplies would be limited, and it didn’t make sense to starve all your newly acquired slaves. It was necessary to provide things yourself.

Each House was responsible for feeding and supplying its own army. Since each was no doubt going to raise as many troops as possible, the situation was going to be made even more difficult. Wagon trains would choke the main roads and questions of who had right of way and who would have to wait could become… heated.

We’ll need to make sure Heartless and Wormwood use different supply routes, she thought. Those two will probably start spilling blood if one of the wagon drivers stares too hard. And that was only the start of the problems. All their armies would have to travel roughly two hundred miles in the middle of winter and rely on supply lines running through a series or freshly conquered nations. Torikai and all their other enemies would have to be thoroughly crushed before the spring and the arrival of the White Army. Only after all that could they face the true enemy. They would need to cooperate and organize things carefully after the bidding.

Lilith was deep in thought and realized Hera had said something which she’d missed.

“What was that?”

“I just said all the branch families are eager to come and fight for you and our House! They all think its been too long since we’ve enjoyed a proper war.”

“Well, it has been over twenty years. I was still an apprentice then and father refused to take me with him. The fighting lasted all of a week and he added Bescon to our holdings.”

Hera sucked in her lips. “You are taking me with you, aren’t you, Aunt Lilith?”

“Certainly, Hera. This will be an important part of your education.”

“It will be the greatest war in history! We’ll slaughter thousands and take more land and slaves than any nation ever! Not even the Amoran Empire ever fought a war like this! It’ll be glorious!”

Lilith let out a despondent sigh. “Yes, I suppose that it will.”

Hera looked at her in surprise. “Is something wrong, Aunt Lilith? Isn’t this what you want?”

“Do you want to know what I want, Hera?”

“Yes, please tell me, Aunt Lilith.”

Lilith pointed to the bones. “I want to see you raise eight undead.”

Nodding, Hera pointed her wand and recast.

XXX

Lilith was in her private chambers going over messages and reports. Their granaries were full. They had more than enough wheat to keep the army fed. There were also plenty of herds of sheep, cattle, and pigs that could be slaughtered for meat. Food wouldn’t be an issue. The problem was transport. She had enough wagons to keep up with the army and keep them supplied. At least at the start. The further the army traveled the longer it would take for the wagons to reach them, the longer for them to make the return trip. Heavy snows and winter storms would slow them. They could build supply depots along the way that would shorten the travel time. But that would mean taking wagons away from the army to stock the depots.

Her forces didn’t even have it as bad as the others. Most of her troops would be undead. The wagons would all be pulled by undead mounts who did not need rest or fodder. Her army had relatively few cavalry, which would save on the amount of hay and feed. This would help make the supply situation more bearable. Ruling a House filled with necromancers was a true blessing from the Dark Powers.

Along with the reports she had a specially made map. It showed the route they would need to take to reach Torikai and all thirty-one countries they would have to conquer. The three northern kingdoms, Torikai and her nine vassals, and the eighteen that just happened to be in between. This number of course did not include Avalon or the Alliance nations. Most of the countries were small and powerless and some could be walked across within hours, but there were still thirty-one of them. Had any nation ever deliberately chosen to fight so many others at once? How many battles would there be? How many soldiers would have to be left behind as garrisons? How many casualties would they have to suffer in order bring all these countries to heel? How much would they be weakened before facing the real threat?

Lilith had only expected to fight Dregal and the Alliance. When Wylef and Lothas decided to declare war, she hadn’t so much as blinked. They could be crushed just as quickly and easily. It was Torikai’s entrance that changed everything. The plan had been to spend the entire winter building up defenses, gathering more forces, and training their soldiers. The White Army meanwhile would have the burden of sailing thousands of miles and then marching hundreds more while dealing with their own supply issues. The battle would surely be legendary, but the six Great Houses would enjoy every possible advantage. Now, instead, that plan had to be tossed out. They could not allow a great nation like Torikai to feed the White Army and then then march south with them. To prevent that, they would have to fight a long and exhausting winter campaign.

In truth, despite all the unforeseen difficulties, she still expected to succeed. It wasn’t as if she objected to the other Houses suffering greater losses. For the sake of her plan, she needed the other Families to bleed. If both sides slaughtered each other and the six Houses emerged triumphant but exhausted, she would be well pleased. (Poisondagger was already doomed to a long drawn-out civil war.) What worried Lilith about the current situation was how chaotic it all was. For Alteroth wars were supposed to be simple, straight forward affairs with everything decided before the first arrow was loosed. This war was going to be the precise opposite. Too many decisions would have to be made while on the march. They didn’t have enough information and were going off half blind. They couldn’t even do a bidding for most of the countries they would conquer. That was guaranteed to cause problems once the war was done.

She set the reports down and rubbed a hand over her tired eyes.

“It doesn’t matter,” she muttered. “No matter how messy, it will all work out in the end.”

There was a single rap at her door. “It’s me.” The voice was surly.

Lilith sighed. Cheerful as ever, she thought. “Come.”

The door to her chambers opened and a zombie shuffled in. He looked across the room at her with milky white eyes and a sullen pout. “You wanted to see me, mother?”

“That’s right,” she didn’t get up or make any effort to sound comforting. “You know that our House will be going to war soon.”

Walter gave a curt nod. “You already told me, mother.”

“Couldn’t you sound a bit more enthusiastic? Hera is practically bouncing off the walls.”

“I’m so sorry I’m not more like your favorite.”

Lilith frowned. “Is that all you have to say? When I was setting off for Pontian you pleaded with me to let you join. Now the greatest war in two thousand years is about to begin and all you can do is be sullen?”

“What is it you want to hear from me, mother?”

“How about, ‘I want to fight for you and our House?’”

“If I said it would you be happy with me for once?”

She shut her eyes and felt her head start to throb. Her left hand began to shake, she shoved it into one of the pockets of her robe. Why did he always have to make things harder than they needed to be?

“I didn’t summon you here to argue. I have good news for you.”

“What?” Walter sounded suspicious.

“I’ve decided to give you a regiment. You’ll have a thousand undead to command. I won’t make you wear armor again or carry a sword. You can stand back and let your soldiers do your fighting for you.”

Walter stared at her and said nothing.

She waited. His silence dragged on for several heartbeats. “Now would be a good time to thank me.”

“I don’t want them, mother.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said,” Walter firmed up his tone. “I don’t want them. I don’t want a command and I don’t want to go to war.”

Lilith’s mouth slipped open. With everything else that was happening this was another unexpected, and unwanted, surprise. She’d expected him to be ungrateful, demanding more, or making wild promises about what he would achieve. She’d never once imagined him saying he didn’t want to fight.

“Was there something else, mother?”

“What do you mean you don’t want to go to war?” Lilith snapped.

“I mean exactly what I said, I don’t want to fight, it’s pointless.”

“Pointless? You begged to fight for me in Pontian! Now I’m offering you an entire regiment of soldiers and the chance to finally win some glory! And you’re telling me you don’t want it? Are you really going to throw this opportunity away?”

“Opportunity for what? To be ended? To suffer?”

“To fight for me! To fight for Corpselover! Every single branch family is sending at least one member to go to war with me! Are you really telling me you won’t do the same?”

“Why should I?” Walter demanded. “There’s nothing in it for me. No matter what I do nothing will change! So why should I bother?”

“It’s your duty as a member of this family!”

“Who cares?”

“I care!”

The two of them glared at one another. It was Walter who looked away first.

“Tell me something, mother. Is there anything I could do in this war that would make you elevate me to heir? Anything at all? If I captured a city or killed a hundred White Mages, would it make a difference?”

“If you fought bravely in my service it would please me, my son.”

“But not enough to make me heir.”

“The dead cannot rule the living, stop pretending you don’t know this!”

“Oh, I know it, mother. That’s why I don’t want to go.”

“If you stay here while the rest of our House marches to war people will call you a coward.”

“I don’t care.”

She could feel her hand shaking more violently. “You disappoint me, mot son.”

“I know.”

Lilith sat there and stared at him.

“You can order me to go. It’s not like I have a real choice.”

“We all have choices Walter; you just keep making the wrong ones.”

“I’m sorry I’m not as perfect as Waldo.”

She sighed. “You can go. I won’t force you to do your duty. Stay here if you like, where it’s nice and safe. I’m sure no one will miss you.”

“Which just means everything will be the same as always.” He turned to go.

“Would you be happier if I sent you away? I could make you an overseer, give you a village.”

He turned back to look at her with pure hatred. “You’d like that wouldn’t you? That would make it even easier for you to forget about me. This is where I belong, mother. If you want me gone have me destroyed.” He stormed out, slamming the door shut behind him.

Lilith sat there for a long while, waiting for her hand to stop shaking.

Chapter 7

The Bidding

It had been two weeks since the Council had decided to go to war with Torikai and a gaggle of other nations. In the fields just outside of Alter six separate camps were starting to grow. Row upon on row of tents could be seen. Cook fires were set up, latrines were dug, and the soldiers spent their days learning how to march in step and wield a spear or pike without stabbing their neighbor. The difference between the house troops and the newly raised militias could not have been clearer. The regular soldiers were well disciplined and had spent years training, both individually and as part of a unit. They were all properly equipped with armor, shield, and various steel weapons. The ones who served as cavalry were expert riders. The archers were marksmen. The foot were muscled and tough.

By contrast, few of new recruits wore armor or used metal weapons. The majority carried a simple round wooden shield and might have a leather jerkin if they were lucky, otherwise they would fight in their everyday work clothes. About half of them were given pikes, ten-foot-long staffs of wood that had one end sharpened. Others had shorter, thinner staffs that could be used as spears. Some had bows with stone tipped arrows. The rest had a wide array of weapons including axes, clubs, daggers, scythes, and even pitchforks. Even her own forces had this kind of disparate mix, along with thousands undead corpses and skeletons standing packed together.

The Blooddrinker army was the sole exception, they were the only ones lacking this chaotic disparity among their troops. The Blooddrinkers maintained whole villages of goblins and orcs who constantly trained to be soldiers. That House’s fascination with breeding had led them to raise a horde of monsters bred for strength and physical endurance. Along with whole regiments of these brutish goblins and orcs there were smaller companies of ogres, minotaurs, and trolls. There were even a handful of elven rangers who would act as scouts. Effectively, they had an entire army made up of house troops. They alone had mobilized immediately, having no need to equip or train raw recruits. It was quite expensive to keep such a large standing army, but Baldwin thought it worthwhile.

The presence of so many thousands of soldiers near Alter had little direct effect. The soldiers were kept outside the city walls and weren’t even allowed to visit the brothels or taverns. Only the branch members accompanying the troops were given free entry into the city. Lilith already had a dozen of her extended family residing as guests in her castle. Andris was one of them of course. Hera was spending as much time with him as possible between lessons. She noted that most of the other branches were trying to ignore him, but a few were trying to get on his good side. It was obvious everyone saw Hera not simply as her apprentice but as her heir and were either lining up for or against Andris based on that.

Lilith could have abused them of the notion but decided not to bother. They all would have assumed she was lying anyway. It didn’t matter for the time being. When Waldo returned home, married Hera, and was named heir, that would be the time to straighten things out. For now, there were more important matters to deal with.

XXX

Lilith strode into the Council chamber with Hera two steps behind her. Spread out on the table were three large maps, each drawn on sheepskin. She didn’t need to actually see them to know they were of Dregal, Wylef, and Lothas, the so-called northern kingdoms who would be the first victims of this war. Each of the maps would detail every city, town, village, mine, forest, prairie, lake, river, and road. All the riches a country possessed were laid out for them. And on those maps carefully plotted lines had been drawn carving each country up into seven pieces, much as you might carve up a roast. The sections with cities in them were smaller, while the ones with only forest and a few scattered villages were much larger. An effort had been made to try and keep each piece equally valuable. This wasn’t really possible as cities and mines were always much more desirable than empty forests or grasslands, but the divisions were as equitable as they could be.

There were pens and inkwells on the table as well. They could add markings and adjustments to the maps as needed. Every single nation that bordered Alteroth had been carefully surveyed by their merchants and traders. All those reports were compiled, and maps produced showing everything of value. Those maps were then divided up and stored away for the day they would be needed. The other family Heads were all standing over those maps, talking and pointing. Darius and Tiberius were shoulder to shoulder as usual. Darius was gesturing frantically and talking about what he would do with his new territories. Tiberius nodded and made a comment she didn’t hear. The other three stood apart and didn’t say much. No doubt trying to keep their objectives hidden from everyone else.

It was kind of pointless as they all shared the same opinions. Cities were the most valuable, then the mines, then the towns, and after that the order didn’t particularly matter. She was certain the prize they all secretly coveted was the city of Middleton in Lothas. It not only possessed vast iron mines but had a huge population of goblins. All of them would want it more than anything else that was available. Lilith was also sure that every one of them was resigned to not getting it. They’d all assume she’d win the bidding and take it for herself.

As she approached her seat the men noticed her.

“You’re late as always,” Darius complained.

“I am never late,” she replied. “I always arrive precisely when I should. It’s hardly my fault if you’re always here early.”

Darius scowled at her, but she hardly cared. Baldwin spoke before he could add another rude remark.

“We need to solve a minor problem before we can start the bidding.”

“What is it?”

Baldwin waved at the maps. “Well, without Poisondagger here the numbers don’t work out. The maps have been divided into twenty-one pieces, but with only six Houses we can only choose eighteen. We’re not sure what to do with the three that will be left over.”

“Baldwin,” Gawreth said. “Thinks we should just hold them in trust for whoever eventually takes over Poisondagger.” Gawreth rolled his eyes. “That notion is not very popular.”

“I can imagine,” Lilith said. “Someone will have to spill blood for those lands.”

“Exactly!” Darius declared. “If Poisondagger isn’t fighting why should they get anything at all?”

“The Seven Great Houses are supposed to be equals,” Xilos pointed out.

“If they’re too pathetic and weak to even hold themselves together then they deserve nothing!” Darius said. “Which is what they’ll get. I say we just continue the bidding and include those lands too.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Gawreth accused. “This is just an excuse for you to try and steal extra land.”

“If my army does more of the fighting why shouldn’t I get more of the reward?”

“At least pretend not to be such a shameless thief!”

The two men glared at one another and reached into their robes to take hold of their wands.

Tiberius stepped in between them and held out his hands. “We’re about to start the biggest war in history. Maybe now is not the best time to fight each other?”

“He’s right,” Baldwin said. “We’re already missing Poisondagger. The rest of us need to stand together.”

Darius and Gawreth continued to stare one another down but took their hands out of their pockets.

“We still need to decide what to do with those lands. What do you idiots suggest?” Darius demanded.

“Why not just set them aside for now and decide later?” Xilos suggested.

“And who conquers those lands and occupies them?” Darius asked.

“Is this really so important?” Baldwin sounded exasperated. “We haven’t decided what to do with all the other countries we’ll be conquering. That’s a much bigger problem. Why are we arguing over these scraps?”

“I’ll always fight for what’s mine!” Darius said.

“Who says it’s yours?” Gawreth snapped.

The men all started arguing. Lilith sighed and walked up to the table. She took one of the pens and dipped it into an inkwell. She then stood over the map of Dregal.

“What are you doing?” Darius asked. The others quieted as they noticed what Lilith was up to.

“Solving this stupid quarrel with the stroke of a pen.” She then drew a line across the largest and emptiest section of map.

“Lilith! You can’t just alter the prize maps!” Baldwin said.

She went over to the map of Wylef and drew another line. “Why not?”

“We spent years gathering reports and information to decide exactly how to divide those lands! You can’t change those carefully calculated decisions however you like.”

She drew a final line though a section of Lothas. “And yet I have. Now there are twenty-four pieces, a number divisible by six. Problem solved.” She set the pen back down and sat in her seat.

The five of them looked at one another.

Tiberius shrugged. “Good enough for me.” He took his seat.

The others hesitated, but eventually sat down as well.

“Can we start the bidding now?” Lilith asked.

Darius nodded. “Yes, let’s get on with it.” He opened his mouth to make the opening bid.

“One hundred thousand gold skulls,” Lilith said.

Darius snapped his mouth shut and slammed a fist on the table. “That’s not how the bidding is supposed to start!”

A maid placed a goblet of wine in front of her and Lilith took a long deliberate sip before answering. “I’m not taking any lessons in etiquette from you, Darius. My bid is one hundred thousand. Any higher bids?”

Of course, no one spoke up. That was an absolutely obscene amount of money. Everyone understood that House Corpselover was by far the richest and was going to win the bidding. What they objected to was the way Lilith had just rubbed that fact into their faces.

“There is no need to be rude, Lilith.” Baldwin said in a quiet voice. “Good manners are the proof of one’s being civilized. It’s how you show respect to others.”

“Yes, I was just thinking that when all of you were acting like a pack of unruly children.”

He steepled his hands in front of his face. “You are being very disrespectful to your fellow Heads of House. There are limits.”

“Stop whining, each of you has just earned twenty thousand gold skulls. That should be enough to soothe your wounded pride.”

Neither her words nor his share of her bid made Baldwin look pleased. “How do we decide the rest of the order then?”

She took another sip of her wine. “Just have a bidding for second place.”

“You do love reminding us how much richer you are, don’t you?”

Lilith smiled at him.

“Enough,” Tiberius said. “I bid a hundred gold skulls.”

“Two hundred,” Xilos said.

“Five hundred,” Gawreth said.

“A thousand,” Said Darius.

“Fifteen hundred,” Baldwin said.

“Sixteen hundred,” Tiberius said.

“Seventeen hundred,” Gawreth said.

“Two thousand,” Darius said.

“Three thousand,” Baldwin said.

“Four,” Gawreth said.

“Five,” Darius said.

“Six,” Gawreth said.

“Seven,” Darius said.

“Ten,” Baldwin said.

“Twenty!” Darius grinned over at Gawreth and motioned with a hand, daring him to call out a higher bid.

Gawreth clenched his teeth and remained silent.

“Twenty-one,” Baldwin said.

Darius sat back with a content look on his face. He could have driven the bidding higher, but he knew House Blooddrinker had the deeper pockets. Any further bids would have only cost him more gold without improving his standing. He’d obviously just wanted to outbid Gawreth.

“No further bids then?” Baldwin asked. He waited a couple beats just to be sure. “Then the final order shall be Corpselover, Blooddrinker, Heartless, Wormwood, Blackwater, and Soulbreaker. Each House will pay the amount of their final bid out to the other Houses. We will each claim the available territories we want in this order. One territory at a time, one round at a time. Any objections?”

He was greeted with silence.

“Well then, Lilith. The first choice is yours.”

“I know.” With a flourish she grabbed the pen she’d already used and went over to the map of Lothas. She put her initials down on the section she wanted.

When Baldwin saw where she was marking it, his eyebrows rose. “Lilith, are you sure that’s the one you want? You’re not taking Middleton?”

“No,” she said with complete certainty and thumped the map with her forefinger. “This is the prize I want above all others.”

Baldwin stood up to take a closer look. It was the section right on the border. The most valuable asset it possessed was the city of Stratford. Any city was certainly worth taking, but it couldn’t possibly be worth more than Middleton with its iron mines and goblins. He couldn’t begin to guess why she’d chosen it with the opening bid, but he was not going to complain. He dipped his pen into the ink and initialed the section of Lothas just above hers.

XXX

The rest of the bidding went smoothly. Arrangements were made to send the gold payments to the different Houses, and to receive the ones owed. With that done the meeting broke up. Now each House knew exactly what lands they would have to conquer and occupy. Darius and Tiberius left together, loudly discussing their plans for the upcoming campaign. Lilith was about to leave when Baldwin approached her.

“May I ask you a question?”

Lilith stopped and Hera stopped behind her. “Of course.”

“How much will you receive from the bidding?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Nine thousand, seven hundred and sixty gold skulls.”

“So, in total you lost over ninety thousand.”

“Are you concerned for my finances?”

“I just thought I would point out that if your starting bid had been reasonable you could have still won and it would have cost you perhaps a quarter of what you paid. I would have stopped as soon as I’d secured the second position.”

She shrugged. “Some things are worth a high price.”

He looked at her, his confusion obvious.

“Don’t try and understand my motivations, they aren’t important. I have what I wanted most, as do you, be happy with that.” She turned to go.

“Let’s cooperate on this campaign. Our forces can march and fight together.”

She stopped and faced him again. “Do you think I’ll need any help to conquer my new territories?”

“Of course not, your army is more than enough, as is mine. But the more overwhelming the force the easier things will go. It will also make things simpler if our supply trains cooperate. Darius and Tiberius will be working hand in hand. There is no reason we can’t as well.”

“My father didn’t need help in his war.”

“True enough, but he wasn’t fighting Avalon and the Alliance. If our Houses join forces won’t it make both of us stronger? At the very least it will make things simpler.”

“Do you really think I could work with you after what you did to me?”

Baldwin frowned. “What I did to you? Are we on bad terms? I wasn’t aware of anything that might give you offense.”

“It was your idea to send my son on an impossible First Quest.”

“Lilith, are you still upset about that? It was for your own good.” Baldwin glanced at Hera. “I’d of thought all that to be in the past. Are you really going to hold on to such a silly grudge?”

She walked away without another word. Hera followed, but gave Baldwin an apologetic shake of her head where Lilith couldn’t see.

“We could make an Oath if that will make things easier,” Baldwin called after her. Lilith made no reply and left the chamber. He watched her go with an annoyed smirk.

“It’s always the hard way with you, isn’t it?” He muttered to himself before leaving as well.

Chapter 8

Departures

John Varlos stopped to take a last look at his home. This was the final time he would ever be here. The furniture, paintings, curtains, his desk, most of the library, and most of his personal possessions were all being left behind. There was simply not enough room in the wagon. Along with his wife and children he’d packed in all their coins, clothing, food, some books, and many documents that would prove useful. Being a merchant, he was used to travelling. In some ways this journey would be easy for him, but in most… Well, there was no choice.

He shut his eyes and took a deep breath.

XXX

Two weeks prior

King Leo sat silent atop his throne. He was listening to his advisors. Three days before a dead eagle had arrived at the royal palace and spoken. It had informed them that Alteroth was at war with Dregal and they expected Lothas to refuse any aid and to shut its border to refugees.

The king had called a council to help him decide on a course of action. No one had any illusions about what war with Alteroth would mean, or about their chances for victory. Even so, nearly all his majesty’s advisors were clamoring for war. One of the most respected of them, stood before the rest and spoke on their behalf.

“Your majesty,” Duke Griffinheart said. His voice calm and clear. “We must fight. There is no other choice.”

The small crowd of nobles standing behind him all nodded their agreement.

“With respect, my lord, there is a choice. That is why we are here now, to help his majesty decide,” John had said. He was standing off to the side of the throne, and he was standing alone.

“Aye,” Griffinheart said keeping his eyes on King Leo and refusing to even glance in John’s direction. “We can do nothing and just stand aside as our friends and brothers are massacred. We can be silent witnesses, complicit in this unprovoked and unjustified tragedy. Or we can stand and fight with King Doran and his people!”

“And die with them.”

That at least got the duke to turn his head and acknowledge him. “I would not expect a spy to understand what honor means.”

“I am no spy, I am only a humble merchant, my lord.” Every man in that chamber knew those words were a lie, but some lies were obligatory.

“Does a merchant know more about honor than a spy?”

“What I know, my lord, is that to choose war with Alteroth is to choose to cut open one’s own throat.”

“Every warrior accepts, from the first moment he takes up the sword, that he may die on the battlefield someday. A man’s honor comes from doing what is right and just, even if it means his own death!”

The nobles standing behind Duke Griffinheart all shouted out their approval and their applause rang out. John stood there patient and let them finish before answering.

“Does honor also come from deliberately choosing death, my lord? Not only your own, but the deaths of your men? Of your peasants? Of innocent women and children? Of the entire nation? Is your personal honor more important than all that, my lord?”

“So, we should be cowards to save ourselves while Doran and his are butchered?” Griffinheart demanded.

“My lord, I being a simple merchant, know little of the intricacies of war. So please enlighten me, if we ride off to battle can we save Dregal?”

John saw the smiles fade and the color drain from many of the faces, not all, but many. Talk of war and honor was always thrilling, but the truth behind those brave words was as grim and bleak as could be. To his great credit, the duke answered the question honestly.

“No, we cannot, and if we go to war, we are certain to suffer the same end.”

“Then how can you ask his majesty to choose war, my lord?”

“Because it’s cowards who fight only when they expect to win. To a knight, the only question that should matter is, ‘Is the cause just?’ If the answer is yes, then you must take up your sword, even if you are destined to fall.” Griffinheart turned from John to look back at his king. “I can think of no more honorable cause to fight for than to defend our brothers in arms when they are being attacked by evil men. It is better to die with honor intact than to live as a coward.”

How noble that sounded, how heroic. It might easily be a line from an epic poem. In theory John could even agree with him. The problem was this decision involved so much more than an ideal. John understood what this choice would mean for Lothas. Their country would vanish from the map, and those who didn’t die would become the Dark Mages’ slaves. How could a little dishonor possibly compare to that? He wanted to protect his country and people, and if the only way to do that was to play the coward, so be it.

“Your majesty-”

King Leo spoke, trampling over his words. “We have a sacred obligation to King Doran and to Dregal. We shall not abandon them in their hour of need. Raise the levees, we march to war.”

Duke Griffinheart and all the lords roared their approval.

John stood there in silence.

XXX

His majesty was kind enough to grant him a private audience following the meeting. John had always thought King Leo to be not only a good ruler, but a good man as well. Ruling a country bordering Alteroth was not an easy thing. That shadow had hung over the kingdom for generations. The king had taken the responsibility of protecting his country from the danger seriously and done as well as any monarch could. That only made his decision that much harder to understand.

The king spoke as soon as John entered. “You’ve served me well, John. You have my thanks. Your work is done now. I release you from my service.”

“Your majesty,” John pleaded. “You know that going to war with Alteroth is madness. You cannot save Dregal, but you can save Lothas. I beg you to reconsider.”

His majesty gave him a sad smile and shook his head. “This decision was made long before I was born. Lothas, Wylef, and Dregal we’ve always known that Alteroth would turn on us someday. In my great great grandfather’s time, it was decided that when the day came, we would stand together. All three royal families are connected by blood ties and we have sworn oaths. Some promises must be kept no matter the price.”

“So, you condemn thousands to death for the sake of a promise?” John asked bitterly.

“You are a fine merchant John, and an excellent spy. But you will never know what it means to be a king.” There was no anger. The king’s words were spoken with kindness. “You have no further obligation to me or to Lothas. Do what is best for your family now. And know that you have my thanks and gratitude.”

XXX

He opened his eyes and released his breath.

He’d devoted his entire adult life to serving his king and country. All he’d ever wanted was to keep them safe. In the end he’d failed. After his majesty had sent his declaration of war people had expected a horde of monsters and undead to immediately stampede across the border. The opposite had happened. There’d not been a single raid. That wasn’t the Dark Mages’ way. They never did anything piecemeal. When they were ready, they would come in force and bring complete destruction. Nothing could stop that now.

His time as a spymaster was done, but he was still a husband, father, and merchant. He could still save his family and his merchant house. The first thing he needed to do was take everything he could as far away as possible and reestablish his business. He would go to Torikai. Along with Venezia it was the greatest trade city in the world. He’d gotten reports about a massive riot and attempted revolt, but the queen there remained in power. The army had restored her authority. Word was a lot of merchants had been killed and businesses destroyed during the failed revolt. No matter how bad it might be, all roads still led to Torikai. It might take a while, but the trade routes and caravans would eventually resume. They would need merchants. This was a golden opportunity for him to reestablish Merchant House Varlos in one of the trade capitals of the world.

Best of all, it was far away from Alteroth and the Dark Mages.

XXX

Fredon was storming through the castle halls furious when he spotted a maid.

“Where is he?!”

The poor woman trembled and shrank back from his anger. “H… He is in the audience chamber, your highness.” She already knew who Fredon was searching for.

He hurried past, other servants and guards were blurs to him. Only one person mattered. When he got to the chamber, he threw open the door and charged in.

“Is it true?”

The man inside had been speaking to the royal chamberlain. He had a kindly expression, with snowy hair and a thick beard that hid his neck from view. His eyes were golden, and he wore snow white robes. In his right hand he held a staff carved from wood as pale as bleached bone. With a wave of his left hand, he dismissed the chamberlain. The official offered Fredon a hasty bow and then wasted no time exiting the room. As soon as they were alone, the elderly White Mage gave Fredon a polite bow.

“Welcome back, Crown Prince. Did the hunt go well?”

“Forget the hunt! I want to know if what I’ve heard is true!” He rushed over so that they were standing face to face. The other man was a couple inches taller, so Fredon was forced to look up a bit to meet his eyes. “Are you really abandoning us, Ramiel?”

That gentle, grandfatherly smile Fredon had grown to hate remained unwavering. “As I have told you many, many times before, Avalon does not abandon its friends. You have joined the Alliance of Mist; we shall protect you to the very end.”

“With what?” Fredon cried. “I know you’re powerful, but so is Alteroth. Where are the other White Mages? Where are the legions? Where are the war golems you promised?”

“They are coming,” Ramiel said sounding like a father promising his child a treat. “As we speak, the greatest army in history is assembling. Not only in Avalon but in all member nations of the Alliance. A mighty host that will sweep the dark armies aside and destroy every last Dark Mage.”

“And when will they get here?” Fredon demanded.

“They shall arrive sometime in the late spring.”

“We’ll all be dead by then! What good does any of that do us?!”

“Alas, magic can only do so much. I could instantly travel to Avalon and then return, but I cannot bring an army with me, or even another person. Our forces must cross the Storm Sea and then march south. I cannot change this fact.”

“So, your precious army won’t even have set out by the time Alteroth is at our door. You’ve killed us!”

“Please believe me, Crown Prince. If it were within my power to save everyone in this country, I would. Alas, such is not an option. What I can do is preserve as many lives as possible until the army arrives to free this land.”

“After its been conquered and most everyone slaughtered you mean.”

“Sacrifices must be made.” Those words were spoken with the exact same kindness as all the rest.

“You talk very calmly about people dying. Is it really so easy for you to wash the blood from your hands?”

Ramiel held his free hand up before his face. “I see no blood. The only ones to blame for what is to come are the Dark Mages. They were the ones who chose war, not I.”

“They never would have if you hadn’t come here and seduced my father with false promises! You said Avalon could keep us safe! That if we joined you, you’d protect us! If you hadn’t come, if my father hadn’t listened to you, none of this would be happening now!”

“Please, don’t be so naïve, Crown Prince. A wolf doesn’t require any provocation to attack a rabbit. For that is its nature. This day was always fated to come. Even had I never visited, Alteroth would have devoured you eventually.”

“Maybe,” Fredon admitted. “But that day might not have come for fifty or a hundred years or more.”

“So rather than put your faith in us you’d sooner rely on Alteroth’s lethargy?”

“My father’s faith in you has gotten us a war that will destroy this country!”

“I regret that, I do, but it is a necessary sacrifice.”

“For whom?!”

Fredon was filled with an impotent rage. He’d always distrusted the White Mages. Always known they played their own games for their own ends. He’d understood that to Avalon his country was nothing but a piece on a board. His father had understood that too once. But he’d grown old and sickly. Ramiel was a great healer and had not only cured his father’s illness but removed all the aches and pains that had plagued him. His father, naturally, had been grateful and had wanted the White Mage to remain close. Over the past few years Ramiel had taken advantage of this to whisper in his father’s ear and make all sorts of false promises.

The idea of being protected from Alteroth certainly had a strong appeal. Everyone rightfully feared the Dark Mages and knew they could never be trusted. The problem was that Alteroth bordered them, while Avalon was thousands of miles away. He and the rest of the royal court had been skeptical of how much help Ramiel could actually deliver. But as more time passed, his father’s mind would wander, and the White Mage wormed his way deeper and deeper.

Fredon had tried to make his father see reason. Told him that the White Mages couldn’t be trusted. That while Ramiel could promise whatever he liked there was no way he could ever fulfill those promises. For a while, his father had been willing to at least listen. But as time passed his father grew more and more attached to Ramiel and refused to hear any criticism of the man.

Fredon realized that words were pointless and there was only one solution. Getting rid of Ramiel was not an option. Killing a White Mage would have brought swift retribution from Avalon, not just to him but his entire family and all those close to him. The White Mages loved to portray an image of benevolence, but they could be every bit as ruthless as the Dark Mages.

That had left only the option of removing his father.

The court would have supported him. His father alone was blind to the danger that was brewing. Fredon could have seized the throne and had Ramiel depart and everyone would have accepted it. One stab of the knife and everything would be solved.

But Fredon loved his father. He could not bring himself to murder him. And because of that, thousands would die. Dregal would die.

“I will take his majesty north to Torikai,” Ramiel said. “There he will be safe until we have won the war and he can return to his throne.”

“So, the rumors are all true then. You really are running away and abandoning us.”

The old spellcaster shrugged. “There are times when a tactical retreat is inevitable. Of course, you and the royal family shall accompany us, along with any nobles who also wish to join.”

“You really have no shame at all, do you? You’d actually have me, and my family run away while my people face slaughter. The kings of Wylef and Lothas have decided to fight in our defense. They could save themselves, but they choose to do what is right instead! How can my children and I run away when they will not?”

“You can accomplish nothing by staying.”

“I can stand and fight for my people! My family and I can fulfill our duty! If my father chooses to abandon his country, I can’t stop him. But I won’t and my family won’t! If Dregal is going to burn, then we will burn with it!”

The old mage appeared quite sad to hear that. “Such a waste, you would have made a fine king.”

“Yes, and my first royal command would be to throw you out of the country!”

Unable to do anything more, Fredon left.

XXX

The bells all across Alter were tolling. It was a signal that the time had come. The Great Houses were marching to war. Enver found the ringing annoying, he found everything annoying. The sky was ash grey. It was roughly an hour after sunrise. Though you could not see it, the sun was out. Enver loathed having to be active in the daytime. He felt weary and could not draw on his full strength. It would be even worse once they were well away from the Forge and the skies were clear. His eyes were half lidded, and it was all he could manage to continue moving. All he wanted was to return to his bed and sleep until nightfall. As usual though, what he wanted didn’t matter to his bitch of a mistress.

As he shuffled along, he spotted a lone figure standing by a window that overlooked the courtyard. Seeing the opportunity for a bit of fun, Enver approached.

“Are you really not going to go and say goodbye to mommy?”

“Shut up,” Walter snapped.

“You are as eloquent as ever,” Enver managed a bloodless smile. “Are you regretting your decision? Why don’t you run to her and beg her forgiveness?”

“As if I’d ever beg!”

“Perhaps your memory is as rotten as your corpse. I seem to recall quite a lot of begging and pleading when we set out for Pontian. I was honestly surprised you turned down the chance to accompany her this time. Was dealing with all those nasty rebels scary?” Enver pretended to shiver. “Does the thought of a real war terrify you?”

“Nothing scares me. I just don’t see the point. Why should I bother if there’s no reward?”

“Don’t tell me you still have delusions of running this House.”

Walter stared at him and said nothing.

Enver laughed, his mood temporarily lightened. “You really are a fool, aren’t you? I’ve told you this before, be happy with what you can have.”

“Shut up! What would you know about not getting what’s rightfully yours?”

Enver’s laughter died away. “You ask me that, you hunk of rotten meat? I’ve been her slave for longer than you’ve been alive! Never compare your situation to mine.”

“I’m her son. What she’s doing to me is worse,” Walter turned back to the window. “I hate her more than you ever could.”

“I sincerely doubt that,” Enver began to go. “Try not to eat Hollister or any of the maids while we’re away. It would upset her.”

“I know.”

XXX

More than three thousand undead lined the edges of the castle yard and the road leading from the gate down to the city proper. All these were but a fraction of House Corpselover’s military might. The bulk of the troops were waiting outside the city. The inner courtyard itself was packed with over forty carriages and wagons. Every one of them was hitched to a pair of undead horses and would have at least one Dark Mage as a passenger. All the family members who had arrived in Alter with soldiers were gathered here. They would follow after his mistress in a long procession out to the north road.

Enver shuffled through the cramped courtyard towards a majestic and wide black carriage that was standing just within the castle gate. When he approached the coachman was quick to open the door. Enver climbed in and the door shut behind him. Inside Lilith was sitting on the cushioned seats with Hera and Andris on either side. The carriage was wide enough that all three could sit comfortably. Enver sank into the seating opposite her.

“You look tired,” his mistress said with smirk. “Is it too early or too late? I can never tell with you.”

“Why are you making me ride with you all the way to the border? You could just leave me here and use a summons when the time comes.”

“But that would deny me the pleasure of your company.” She laughed and the other two laughed along with her.

Enver damn well knew she was only doing this out of pure spite. She knew he would hate traveling with her and that was all the justification she needed. Lilith did enjoy her petty torments. Laugh all you like, Enver thought. I will see you dead someday and have the last laugh.

She slid open the window at the front of the carriage and called out a command. The wagon began to rock, and they were soon moving. It bounced and jostled and the three of them began a conversation about something boring.

Enver sat back and sank into the cushions. He shut his eyes and did his best to drift off to sleep.

Chapter 9

Waldo Gets It In The Head

It had taken them a week to reach the vicinity of Ahab’s lair. The land was barren with little more than scrub brush and the occasional stunted tree. The last village they’d passed had been three days ago, they’d had no sign of any other people since. Waldo had thought Lunatown to be the very middle of nowhere. This was genuine wilderness though. When they made camp for the night wolves howled and Waldo was certain he’d spotted long ears and twitching noses peering back at him from the darkness.

The horrible ball of fire was just rising over the horizon. There was not a cloud to be seen and the entire sky was a deep, unnatural blue. Waldo had taken ashes from the campfire and drawn protective wards on Gronk’s and Alice’s backs, before drawing them on his own belly.

“Remember,” Waldo said as he wiped off his hands. “The wards protect you from magical attack, but nothing else. Their effect is also weakened the closer you get to the source of the spell. If you’re within say ten feet of Ahab they’re pretty much worthless. Keep that in mind when we storm the castle.”

Gronk cracked his knuckles. “Don’t worry, master. Soon as I spot him, I’ll do to him what I do to a plump orc.”

“We’re not actually going to just murder him, are we?” Alice asked. “I understand we may have to, but if we can take him prisoner, we will won’t we?”

“I wasn’t planning on it,” Waldo said and looked over at the messenger. “I don’t suppose there’s a reward for bringing him in alive, is there?”

“Not per say, but I’m sure the king and princess would appreciate the chance to give him the proper punishment for all his crimes.” The royal messenger licked at his lips. “A… Assuming it can be done safely.”

Waldo shrugged. “Well, I know how much people enjoy a good torture session. And there’s nothing quite like dinner and an execution. We’ll take him alive if we can. No promises though.”

“Just to be clear, rescuing Princess Ilyena is the absolute priority! Nothing else matters if we can’t save her.”

“Yes, yes,” Waldo said with an annoyed wave of his hand. “Storm the castle and save the princess, got it.”

“It is like something straight out of a heroic tale,” Alice sighed.

“This Ahab had better have a decent spellbook and a chest full of coins at the very least,” he turned back to the messenger. “And your king had better appreciate this.”

“He will,” the messenger assured Waldo. “You’ll be a great hero to the kingdom!”

“Wonderful,” he muttered. “Even more people who’ll think I’m a hero.” Waldo was just glad that rumors about him in this part of the world were unlikely to ever make it back to Alteroth. Even if it happened though, he was sure returning home with a dragon would trump everything else.

He refocused on what was coming. “Along with the wards I’ll cast a Barrier spell before any fighting starts. That will protect us from any bowmen or crossbowmen Ahab may have. The spell only protects against projectiles though, so keep in mind we can still be attacked from above.”

As Waldo said that, he looked up into the empty sky. As it had for the past two days a large hawk was circling overhead. Alice had offered to fly up and deal with it. He’d told her not to bother. Summoners could see through the eyes of their creatures. Ahab would already know about them and their location. Even if they got rid of the hawk, he could just summon another. It was futile to try and keep their approach a secret. At least Ahab the Dread would have no idea that Alice was a succubus. Hopefully, he was already terrified at the thought of being attacked by a White Mage and an ogre.

“All right, we’ll leave the cart here and head towards the castle on foot. With any luck we’ll return with a freed princess, a bound mage, and more treasure than Gronk can carry.”

Gronk snorted while Alice beamed.

The royal messenger was shifting from foot to foot. “Are you sure you don’t want me to join you, Master Rabbit?”

“Do you know how to fight?”

“Of course!” The man puffed out his chest and slapped a hand to his sword hilt.

“Are you better or worse than the knights and soldiers who got slaughtered here before?”

The messenger deflated in an instant. While he did indeed carry a sword at his hip, he wasn’t a knight or especially strong.

“Well… perhaps I’m not a great warrior, but I can still help.”

“You’ll probably just get in the way and get killed. That would be annoying. Stay here until we get back.”

The man’s shoulders slumped, and his head drooped. “But… your wife is going. What kind of man would I be to stay behind while she is bravely facing danger?”

Alice gave him a grateful smile. “That’s very kind of you, but you don’t need to worry. I’m tougher than I look.”

Gronk nodded. “Yeah, she’s a scary bitch when she gets mad.”

“What?!” Alice rounded on the ogre and glared.

Gronk backed away from her. “Well, you are.”

Waldo shook his head and set off. “Let’s go.”

His two companions fell in beside him and they were off to storm the castle.

XXX

They had to walk about two miles before they finally spotted Ahab’s castle. The hawk remained above their heads the entire time. As soon as Waldo got a clear view, he was deeply disappointed. Back in Alter the building would not have been referred to as a castle. At best, (at best!) it could have served as a warehouse. There were no towers or turrets, and the outer wall was only about six feet high. There was just a two-story stone building carved into the side of a hill. It did at least have a gatehouse. Waldo supposed that if he was being very, very, very generous he might call it a fortress. But to refer to such a minor building as a castle was nothing but a blatant lie.

Well, maybe it wasn’t a lie, Waldo thought. These savages probably have no idea what a real castle even looks like. It was depressing to know they’d come all this to deal with something so trivial.

The lair was also far from the only disappointment. As they were approaching, they were passing many skeletons and rotting corpses scattered all over the ground. Nearly all of them had vestiges of armor and weapons nearby. There were also animal bones mixed in here and there, but they were outnumbered by the human remains. Judging by the evidence Waldo would estimate there had been at most fifty or so men. The so called ‘army’ King Danut had sent to rescue his daughter.

“This is so tragic,” Alice said. He could feel her sorrow through the Bond. “It’s such a pointless waste.”

Waldo nodded. “I agree, these are ideal raw material for making skeletons and walking corpses. To let them just go unused is a shame. But I suppose it makes our work easier. Summoners are dangerous, Necromancers are even more so.” Being a Corpselover he was an expert in the power of necromancy, even if he couldn’t use it himself.

For some odd reason he felt startlement and annoyance from Alice. She also sent him one of those looks. It was a strange reaction since he’d agreed with her.

He set it aside as there were more important things to worry about. He put a hand to his face to shield his eyes. Waldo had cast monster detection, the light coming from Alice and Gronk was almost blinding. He had to squint to make out the much weaker glows coming from the tall grass. It wasn’t easy, and he couldn’t do an exact count, but it was enough. He knelt down in the dirt and took out one of his slim daggers. He scratched out a circle around himself. With swift and sure strokes, he drew runes and magical symbols on the inside of it.

“Looks like we’re surrounded,” Waldo said matter of factly. “I’d guess there are more than a hundred of them and they’re starting to close in.” He kept his focus on completing the inscription.

Gronk stretched out and yawned. “Yeah, I can smell them, master. No monsters though, only plain old animals. Yummy.”

Waldo could hear the sound of flesh tearing and clothes ripping. He glanced over to see Alice taking on her true form. Her leathery wings unfurled and took shape, her claws were long and sharp, her horns and fangs were in place, and her tail whipped back and forth. Alice’s face turned from one side to the other, searching. There were ripples in the tall grass, but nothing else.

“Ah, darling? Isn’t a hundred a bit much? Will we be able to protect you from that many?”

In response Waldo stood up and took out his wand. “Loratos.” Some of his mana slid out and into the now completed protective circle. The circle and inscription began to glow. “I’ll be fine, Alice. Protective magics and healing are the two things I’ve always been good at. You should get into the air, you’re actually more vulnerable than I am.”

She chewed at her bottom lip. “You sure, darling?”

“I’m sure.”

Alice hesitated, but finally lifted her wings high and slapped them down. She shot into the air like an arrow from a bow.

As if it were a signal, howls rose from all sides. Waldo saw every one of the faint lights begin to charge towards him.

“Here they come,” Waldo said calm as could be.

Two grey wolves burst out of the tall grass and leapt onto Gronk. One latched his teeth on the ogre’s left arm, while the other managed to scramble up his chest and clamp down right on Gronk’s neck.

The ogre giggled. “Tickles,” Gronk grabbed the wolf at his throat with his right hand and squeezed. The animal’s jaws popped open and both eyes were pushed out of their sockets. Blood spurted out, like juice from a squashed grape. Gronk tossed the bloody thing aside and then reached over to the second wolf to rip it in half.

As this was going on a pair of beasts were coming at Waldo from either side. To his right, a massive orange and black striped cat leapt out of the tall grass. It roared and flew at him with its claws extended and jaws wide open. To his left, a brown bear almost as big and heavy as Gronk came barreling straight at him. Waldo stood in the middle of circle without flinching.

The big cat’s leap came to a sudden stop midair. Waldo saw its nose flatten as its whole face smashed up against an invisible barrier. The graceful and powerful bound turned into a clumsy flop as the animal tumbled ass first to the ground. Apparently, cats did not always land on their feet. The bear, on the other hand, just barreled directly at Waldo with its head down. It slammed into the magical wall, and eight hundred pounds of rampaging fury just bounced back. The bear stumbled and gave a ponderous shake. He then roared and got up on his hind legs so as to tower over Waldo. The animal then half stumbled; half leaned forward to try to grab him in a crushing embrace. Instead, the bear was propped up against empty air trying unsuccessfully to crush it and reach its target. Meanwhile, the big cat twisted about and was back on all fours in an instant. It began to savagely swipe and claw at the barrier in a desperate attempt to reach Waldo. Though it was futile, neither animal hesitated and kept attacking as ferociously as they could.

Waldo noted this blind devotion to their master’s will. He’d seen it before. Walter had always used wolves and made them fight to their physical limits. He never cared what happened to them so long as they took down their targets. For him they’d just been easily replaceable tools. Waldo let out a despondent sigh and wondered what it would be like to have such blind and total obedience. He was sure it was nice.

“Wolves and tigers and bears,” Waldo held out his wand. “Oh my. Pyro.”

A stream of fire caught the tiger square in the face. It leapt away and twisted about in a mad effort to put out the flames. The fires had caught though, and all the wild jolting about only spread them along the animal’s hide. When it realized it was useless, the tiger roared and charged at Waldo. It slammed face first into the barrier and started clawing like mad even as its whole body became a torch. It kept trying to reach him until it collapsed at his feet.

Waldo thought it a magnificent display. Pointless, but still utterly superb. “Pyro.” Another stream of fire set the bear alight and turned into a living bonfire. Unlike the tiger, the bear made no effort to try and put out the flames. Instead, it just kept hammering against the barrier until its strength gave out and it fell into a burning heap.

Waldo looked up and saw Gronk taking on a black bear. It was on its rear legs and was big enough to stand eye to eye with the ogre. Its claws raked Gronk’s chest to no effect. It growled and tried to crush Gronk in its embrace.

“Aww, do you need a hug, sweetie?” The ogre swatted the bear’s arms aside and quickly wrapped its own all the way around its waist. Gronk squeezed. There was a loud snap, and the bear went as limp as a rag doll. Gronk tossed it aside with no effort.

Waldo looked to the sky just in time to see Alice diving towards the ground. Her wings were folded back, and the claws of each finger were fully extended. In her true form she was as fast and graceful as any eagle. Just before she would have hit the earth, she spread her wings and suddenly shot back up. In that same instant her right hand lashed out. With the tall grass he couldn’t see what was there. What he did make out was a sudden splash of blood and a light guttering out.

Two wolves and another tiger came running at him. “Pyro. Pyro. Pyro.”

The wolves burned. The tiger burned. Everything burned.

XXX

Waldo remained inside his circle completely untouched and unscathed. Walter and others had always mocked him for his talents in healing and protective magic. He himself had always been disappointed in them as well. But watching the bodies pile up Waldo had to admit that protective magic had its uses. The summons kept coming, but no matter how ferociously they threw themselves against his circle they were always stopped cold. And since he had actual offensive magic now, Waldo could simply stand there and set them alight. Charred corpses were piling up all around him as he just continued casting. Waldo was sure if mother could see this, she would be proud. It really made him want to use a message spell to contact her. It was a true shame that the rules of the First Quest forbade it.

As Waldo stood there surrounded by dead and dying animals, he watched his two companions also slaughtering them. He saw Gronk step down on a boar, squashing it like a worm. A big spotted cat leapt onto the ogre’s back and began clawing at him. Gronk laughed and fell backwards, the leopard was splatted like a bug beneath a rock. No common animal could ever hope to pierce an ogre’s hide. Gronk was having an easy time of it and creating his own (smaller) pile of corpses.

Watching this Waldo noted that Gronk never bothered with Rabbitslayer or Rabbitchopper. Both magical weapons remained untouched in their sheaths. It made sense as he certainly didn’t need them to handle things. But then again, magical weapons were quite rare and valuable. Waldo had paid for lessons with Restes and Gronk had worked with Nel back in Torikai. It seemed like an awful waste to have a Great Monster carrying two enchanted weapons and not use them. Waldo would need to do something about that later.

Waldo looked up to see Alice diving down on some other target. Her skin was no tougher his and she didn’t have near the strength of an ogre. (Though Waldo was painfully aware that she had monstrous power compared to a human.) In her true form though Alice was probably deadlier than either him or Gronk. She made one slash with her right arm just as she was pulling up from her dive. Waldo couldn’t see the target, but he could clearly make out the blood that washed over her. He saw a light flicker and vanish. Alice was a predator, and nothing on the ground could hope to escape her.

XXX

The ‘battle’ lasted about half an hour. It ended when all the animals that had been attacking them were slaughtered. Compared to dealing with a troll or a cyclops the fight had been ridiculously easy. Seeing all the death he and his companions had caused Waldo couldn’t help but smile. This was exactly the sort of thing only a true Dark Mage was capable of. He put his head back and laughed.

“Is that the best that you can do?!” Waldo shouted in the direction of Ahab’s keep.

Splat!

Something wet splattered atop his head. Waldo reached up and felt his hair a gooey mess. He pulled his hand back to see his fingers now covered in white bird shit. He glared up at the hawk that had been following them this entire time and shook a fist at it.

“Okay, that’s just rude!”

The hawk pooped again and got him right between the eyes.

Chapter 10

The Most Important Thing

“Did you get all of it?”

Alice sighed. “Yes, darling. I washed all of it out. Your face and hair are all clean now.”

“I still can’t believe Ahab did something so rude to a fellow mage.” He again shook his fist in the direction of the fortress.

Gronk lifted his face from the bear leg he was munching on and swallowed. “You know, to be fair master, we did just kill all of his pets. Can’t really blame him for being a little pissy.” He took another bite.

“Mages fight and kill each other all the time,” Waldo said indignant. “But being civilized means we do it properly and with mutual respect! You can kill someone without being impolite!”

“So, you’re more upset with a bird pooping on you than having all those animals trying to kill you?” Alice asked.

“Of course! Even if he’s not a Dark Mage this Ahab is still a mage. I would never expect him to just give up. Doing everything in his power to kill me is only normal. How could I possibly hold that against him?”

“But a hawk crapping on you, that you can’t forgive?”

“Of course not! It’s a complete insult!”

Gronk looked over with a wide grin. “This means we’re definitely going to kill this guy, right master?”

“No, we’re not,” Alice interjected. “Not unless we have to.”

“I wasn’t asking you, sweetie.”

Alice turned to Waldo. “You said we weren’t going to kill him unless there was no choice.”

“That was before he had his bird shit on me!”

“Oh, come on, darling. You’re not that kind of man. You don’t have an ounce of cruelty in you.”

Waldo gasped. “There’s no reason to be insulting, Alice.”

She groaned and put a hand to her face. “Darling, please just promise me that if we can take him alive, we will.”

“Why do you care? How many people have we killed up until now? We wiped out an entire thieves’ guild. Why does the life of this one discourteous idiot matter?”

“We’ve only ever killed when we had to. If we have to kill him then fine, I won’t complain. All I’m saying is that I don’t want us to commit murder. He should be handed over to the king so that he can be justly punished.”

Waldo thought about it. “Why do you think that’s any better? He kidnapped the man’s daughter and killed all his knights and soldiers, never mind all his other crimes. If the king gets his hands on him, he will be tortured and then suffer some exceptionally brutal execution. He’ll probably be burned at the stake, entombed, disemboweled, forced to swallow molten led, fed to wild beasts, crushed, or have his heart ripped out before his eyes.” Waldo paused and thought about it some more. “You know what, Alice? You’re right, I can be magnanimous, we’ll take him alive and hand him over to the king. Who knows? We might get a better reward.” He gave her a nod. “I hope you can appreciate my generosity.”

“Yes, darling,” Alice groaned. “You’re wonderful.”

XXX

Having slaughtered all the summons, the three of them were walking straight towards Ahab’s front door. There really didn’t seem much point in trying to be stealthy. Waldo also didn’t see any need to rush. Gronk was completely drenched in blood. Looking more red than green at the moment. Alice appeared only slightly better, her arms were slick up past the elbows and her clothes were splattered. By comparison, except for damp hair Waldo looked pristine. His white robes were still immaculate, and except for the dirt on his boots he might have just gotten dressed. The three of them sauntered along towards the fortress with a hundred or so mangled carcasses and a slowly spreading fire behind them.

“So, what happens now, master?”

Waldo shrugged. “We storm the castle, kill all the guards, thoroughly loot the place, liberate the princess, and capture Ahab.”

“Darling,” Alice said. “Don’t you think your priorities are in the wrong order?”

“You want to start looting before we’ve killed all the guards?”

“No. I think you’re forgetting the most important thing.”

Waldo paused and thought. “You think Ahab’s spellbook will be more valuable than his other treasures?”

“No! The most important thing is to save the princess! That’s the whole reason we’re here. Shouldn’t we do that first before anything else?”

Waldo shrugged. “There’s really not much point to that. Ahab’s already had more than enough time to do whatever he’s going to with her. A few minutes now won’t make a difference. If Ahab plans to use her as a hostage or bargaining chip, she’ll still be safe even as we ransack the place. If instead, he decides to kill her out of spite she’s already dead. So again, we may as well get the treasure first.”

“Do you think he’d do that?” Alice asked in horror.

“It’s possible. A man who would deliberately drop bird crap on an opponent is capable of anything.”

“Then why aren’t we hurrying? I could fly you up to the roof and-”

“It wouldn’t make a difference,” Waldo said. “Ahab has already made his choice.”

“Don’t you care about saving her?” Alice demanded.

“Not really, I’m only here because you forced me into this.”

“But, darling! What do we do if we’re too late?”

“We skip that step and go straight to capturing Ahab.”

XXX

The entirety of Ahab’s ‘castle’ would probably have fit into one of Castle Corpselover’s towers. There was a dry moat with stakes at the bottom that ran in a semi-circle around the keep. It was sort of pointless as one could literally just walk around it and onto the castle by climbing the hill. The miniscule wall and a gatehouse were the only other defensive features the place had. A short drawbridge had been pulled up and fronted the gatehouse, barring entry. Again, all these feeble defenses were negated by the fact the building was part of a hill. If they’d wanted to, they could have simply climbed up the other side of the hill and then down onto the roof. Honestly, the entire building seemed pointless if the objective was to keep others out. A large cottage with a welcome sign out front would have been equally effective.

“What do we do if he has monsters waiting for us, darling?”

“Kill them, what else? I wouldn’t be too worried though. If he had any he’d have already used them. Ahab might still have a handful of summons and human guards, but that’s likely all. The hard part is already done.”

No sooner had Waldo said that than they heard clanking coming from up ahead. They saw the wooden drawbridge begin to lower. Waldo came to a halt and Alice and Gronk did likewise.

“Looks like his soldiers are going to charge at us. Good.”

“Why is that good?” Alice demanded.

“It’s easier and quicker to deal with them this way than to have them trying to ambush us as we’re searching.”

Gronk snorted a laugh. “Come on sweetie, compared to what we just went through this’ll be as easy as snacking on a goblin.”

“Right,” Alice sounded less than enthusiastic but stood there waiting.

Waldo had his wand in hand and Gronk cracked his knuckles.

It didn’t take long for the drawbridge to finish lowering and make a path over the moat. Immediately there were shouts and the sound of hooves. Six men on horseback, covered in chainmail charged out, one right behind the other. As soon as they were over the bridge and on firm ground, they turned to the south and rode away as fast as they could.

Waldo watched them galloping away as fast as their horses could go.

“Master?” Gronk looked at him confused. “Is this a trick or did they really just run away?”

“I’m sure it must be some sort of clever military maneuver meant to catch us off guard.”

Even as Waldo said that the soldiers were still riding all out and showed no sign of stopping. A moment later about a dozen more people came running out on foot. None of them wore armor or carried swords, though a few were carrying bundles on their backs. They were all fleeing in the same direction the soldiers had gone and were shouting at each other to hurry.

Waldo, Alice, and Gronk just stood there and watched.

“Or,” Waldo said. “They really are just running away.”

“Kind of sad, huh master?”

“I’m glad,” Alice said.

Waldo shook his head. “Soldiers and servants saving themselves instead of staying to fight to the death? Some people have no standards.”

“They didn’t want to die, darling. I can’t blame them. Running away was the smartest thing they could do.”

“That’s not the point,” Waldo insisted. “The guards in my home are undead and would never abandon their posts. The servants are much too scared of my mother to even think about abandoning her. This only shows how incompetent Ahab is.” He sighed. “Well, it does make things easier I suppose. Let’s go.”

The three of them walked on and entered the gatehouse.

Chapter 11

Traps And Something Precious

Exiting the gatehouse revealed a now vacant stable and cramped courtyard. Empty windows looked down at them and there was no hint of movement to be seen. Along with the windows there was a single balcony with an open door. On the other side of the yard were a pair of double doors that were standing ajar. Waldo motioned for Gronk to take the lead.

“There may be traps. Gronk, you go first.”

“Sure thing, master,” the ogre stepped forward and entered the doorway.

“Darling,” Alice said with concern. “You’re going to use Gronk as a shield?”

Waldo turned and looked at her in surprise. “Well of course, how else would I use him? Besides, I seriously doubt there’s anything in here that could hurt an ogre.”

“But what if there is?”

“Then he’s a lot likelier to survive it than I am.”

Alice’s lips turned down. “That’s a very cold-hearted way of looking at things, darling.”

“Thank you,” Waldo strolled into the building.

Alice let out an annoyed sigh before following.

XXX

There was a modest foyer with a pair of small tables surrounded by overturned chairs. On the floor there were the shattered remnants of a cup or plate. In the air was the pleasant aroma of food cooking and bread baking. It reminded Waldo that it was about lunch time and he was feeling a bit peckish. He wouldn’t have minded investigating the kitchen and having a quick meal before continuing the search.

He glanced over his shoulder at Alice. Her eyes were darting all about and her tail was sticking straight out as rigid and firm as an iron rod. Through the Bond he could sense only nervousness and worry. He could guess how she would react if he suggested they take even a brief break. Alice could be difficult even in the best of times with all her ridiculous rules and morals. But since badgering him into this absurd adventure she’d been even worse. By the Dark Powers, even after all these months he could still not understand her sometimes. Why she cared so much about rescuing this foreign princess of some insignificant and impoverished kingdom was beyond him. He just knew that if he suggested they stop and get a little food she’d be upset.

So instead of heading towards the door on the far left that was likely the kitchen, Waldo motioned to the hallway in front of them. Gronk nodded and headed down it as he and Alice followed. It led to a long corridor with rooms on either side and a wide stair way all the way on the right. Most of the doors were open and as they walked past Waldo would glance inside. They looked like servants’ quarters with straw beds, clothes hanging, and a few threadbare furnishings. He didn’t bother to step inside and inspect any of them closer. Nothing he saw interested him and there was nothing worth stealing. Waldo just walked behind Gronk, stopped to peer in for a moment, then continued to the next door.

If Waldo was acting rather nonchalant it was only because he was bored. The hard part was over. Now all they had to do was track down the princess and the oh so terrifying Ahab the Dread. They would rescue her or not and whether the princess lived or died didn’t matter just so long as Alice didn’t blame him.

In one sense, they were indeed storming the castle of an evil mage to rescue a kidnapped princess. On the surface that certainly sounded dangerous. But for someone from Alter who grew up surrounded by genuinely scary people and monsters, the current situation was akin to searching for a lost puppy in a meadow.

His experience with Walter meant he was painfully familiar with how Summoners operated. They always relied on their summons to fight for them and so committed most of their mana and effort in maintaining as many of them as they could. The great benefit of being a Summoner was that whatever creature you summoned was yours, body and soul. Unless you released them, they were compelled to absolute obedience, just like a familiar but without the need for a Contract. The drawback was that just as with a familiar maintaining that magical connection demanded a price, mana. A sliver of the Summoner’s mana had to be sacrificed to sustain that control. The amount of mana drained away was tiny, just a trickle from the pool, but it had to be spent every day. And, of course, the more summons you had the more you had to pay. Bleed away enough drops and eventually you begin to run dry.

Walter had kept a pack of a hundred and ten wolves in his service. The price had been such he’d been unable to cast more than one or two spells of the greater magics per day. Walter’s ability to draw mana had never been anything special to begin with, so the handicap was noticeable. Mother had scolded him about it and told him to keep a smaller pack. Walter never listened, like most Summoners his summons were his pride and joy.

After the slaughter they’d inflicted to reach this place Waldo was willing to bet Ahab would not have the mana to cast more than a handful of offensive spells. And if his entire herd of summons couldn’t do anything to Gronk and Alice what chance did his direct magic have? Waldo was confident they would overwhelm Ahab before he could do much. That was assuming Ahab was even still in the keep. Waldo hadn’t sensed another mage yet; the fortress wasn’t that big. He would have expected to at least pick up a trace of the other man.  Perhaps Ahab had fled. Running for his life rather than trying to fight an ogre, a succubus, and a White Mage would certainly make sense. So, Waldo was confident that either there would be no final confrontation, or if there was one it would be over quickly. Which made searching this half size fortress more a chore than an adventure.

The doors that were closed Gronk opened. The rooms that weren’t servants’ quarters were storerooms holding spare blankets, cleaning tools, and other basic supplies. Waldo sauntered from door to door behind Gronk, in no particular hurry. Meanwhile he could sense frustration growing through the Bond and saw Alice’s tail start to quiver.

“Why are we going so slow?” She finally burst out.

“Would there be a point in rushing?” Waldo peered into another room unhurried.

“The princess could be in danger! Why aren’t we going straight to where she is?”

“And where is that exactly?”

“I don’t know,” Alice sputtered. “Can’t you use magic to find her? The way you did with me or Luna?”

“You and Luna are monsters,” Waldo pointed out. “There is no, ‘detect princess’ spell in my spellbook. We’ll just have to search room by room until we find her.”

“If we split up, we could cover more ground,” Gronk suggested.

Waldo shook his head. “That would be dangerous. While I don’t honestly consider Ahab much of a threat, there’s no reason to invite trouble.”

“But what if we’re too late to save her?” Alice asked.

“Then we will loot this place and deliver her body to the king along with her murderer.”

“What happens if we do saver her, master?” Gronk asked.

“Then we will loot this place and deliver her to the king along with her kidnapper. We will also demand a better reward than a horse or a cow.”

“You don’t care at all whether or not we save this poor girl, do you?” Alice demanded.

“Why do you keep asking questions whose answers you already know?” He felt a surge of anger through the Bond and saw her slam her hands to her hips. “Why does this matter to you, Alice?

“This is a chance for us to do something good! To do something worthwhile!”

“Worthwhile?” Waldo stared at her in genuine astonishment. “Alice, I am trying to get a dragon as my familiar. That is something truly worthwhile. The last mage to do that was Magus the Undying, over five thousand years ago. Everyone literally thinks it’s impossible. If I can do it no one will care about my eyes or what my Talents are. I will finally have respect and be seen as worthy of my place as heir. Most important of all, it will definitely make mother proud of me! And you think rescuing some random princess from a destitute kingdom should be my priority?” Waldo shook his head. “Why must you always be so selfish?”

Her jaw dropped, her tail went limp, and he felt a burst of exasperation through the Bond. As she didn’t actually say anything though Waldo just continued to the next room.

XXX

Eventually all the doors were opened without discovering anything of interest. At the end of the hall was an open stairwell.

“Up or down, master?” Gronk asked.

Waldo had intended to say up. If Ahab were still in this castle, he was likely on the second level somewhere. But as Waldo approached the stairs, he could sense a spark of magic coming from below. He knew immediately it couldn’t be Ahab; any mage or archmage stout enough to summon a wide variety of animals wouldn’t have such a faint magical signature. It could only be a spell or enchantment.

“Down,” Waldo said.

The ogre obediently nodded and went down the stairs as Waldo and Alice followed behind. The stairs ended one level below at what apparently passed for a dungeon in this part of the world. It consisted of two prison cells that were across from each other. Both had doors made of iron bars. Looking through the bars Waldo saw identical ten-foot square rooms with a pile of straw for bedding and a slop bucket. There was nothing else. No chains mounted to the walls, no racks, no vices, no whips, no knives, no iron rods, no braziers to heat the rods, there was not even any rope. Referring to this place as a dungeon was being overly kind.

“How sad,” Waldo sighed. “Ahab really has no standards.”

Alice peered into each cell and Waldo could sense the worry through the Bond.

“Do you think this is where the Princess was kept?”

“I doubt it,” Waldo said. “The piles of straw are much too neat and there’s not so much as a whiff of piss or shit. My guess is no one has been imprisoned here for a while.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Alice sighed.

Waldo considered lecturing her on the value of a proper dungeon and how important it was to running a genuine castle. Like the way a public whipping could do wonders for the work ethic of the servants. (Though in all fairness having a vampire and zombie roaming the halls helped too.) He chose to hold off as he doubted, she would appreciate his wisdom. There would be plenty of opportunity once she returned home with him to Alter. At that moment there was something else that interested him a great deal more.

Past the cell doors the corridor stretched for another twenty feet. There was a solid oak door, and Waldo could feel magic from it. He could also see flickers of light coming from the floor just in front, as well as faint magic beneath the floor.

“Gronk,” Waldo pointed to the end of the hallway.

“Sure thing, master,” the ogre nodded and strolled towards the door.

“Oh, and there’s probably a trap door right in front of it.”

“Huh?”

Just as Gronk said that there was a noticeable, ‘click.’ The stone floor split in two and swung out of the way.

“Eek!” Gronk let out a surprisingly girlish cry as he suddenly dropped out of sight.

“Gronk!” Alice ran to the edge of the trap door.

Waldo sauntered over. When he got to it, he peered down to see Gronk standing there about five feet below. Writhing and hissing at Gronk’s feet were a mass of red and black snakes. He had crushed two or three when he landed, but the remaining seven or eight looked to be quite agitated.

“Oh, Lastbreaths,” he turned to Alice. “They are the deadliest venomous snakes known to man. Their poison is said to be almost as lethal as a basilisk’s. People say once you’re bitten your next breath is certain to be your last. That’s a bit of an exaggeration though, the poison can take up to a minute to take effect, but unless there is healing magic immediately available death is an absolute certainty. Ahab may be an idiot as an architect, but I have to give him credit for his trap design at least.”

“Why aren’t you helping save him?” Alice screeched.

“Why would I need to?” Waldo asked in surprise. “They’re not monsters but ordinary animals. There’s no way they can bite through his hide.”

“It’s true, sweetie,” Gronk stood up. His head and shoulders popped out of the trap. “They’re trying their best though.”

“You see? Nothing to worry about.”

Waldo expected that information to settle Alice down. But for some reason she remained upset.

“And what would you do if there had been something down there that could hurt Gronk?”

“Heal him, obviously. Honestly, Alice, why do you ask such silly questions?”

Smack!

She hit him on the back of his head so hard he almost stumbled into the pit. As Waldo rubbed his head, he looked at her. Why was Alice always so violent for absolutely no reason?

“So master, can I go ahead and eat these snakes? They look kind of tasty.”

“No, put them in a sack.”

“You’re going to keep a bunch of poisonous snakes?!” Alice yelped.

“That’s right, their venom is among the deadliest in the world. There’s no way I’d waste something so precious.”

Chapter 12

A Bit Of A Surprise

Since Gronk was still carrying all their supplies it was simple enough to find and empty sack to stuff the Lastbreaths into it. Gronk then climbed out of the hole as Waldo levitated over and Alice hiked up her skirt and jumped across. The three of them were then standing before a solid oak door with a heavy iron lock. Waldo could sense magic from it, so it had been enchanted. He took out his wand and spoke a single work of magic.

“Nunc.”

The magic from the lock was negated. It had just been a basic sealing spell. Waldo gave the door a simple push and it swung open with a creak. Like everything else in this ‘castle’ the vault was less than impressive. It was just a plain ten-foot square room with five chests inside. He couldn’t sense any additional magic, and when he lifted one of the lids, he learned the chests weren’t even locked. Opening all of them he discovered four were filled with coins with the last crammed with rings, necklaces, and other pieces of jewelry. He didn’t spot a single gold coin, but there were hundreds of silver ones as well as thousands and thousands of copper.

Waldo took both hands and reached into one of the chests. He pulled them out and watched the coins cascade through his fingers. It would have been better if there had been gold here as well, but this would still do nicely. This would pay for many, many, many pitchers of dwarven whiskey.

He turned to Alice. “I think coming here may have been a good decision after all. Maybe being heroic from time to time isn’t as awful a waste of time as I always thought.”

“How generous of you,” Alice groaned.

“I know.”

She sighed and rubbed a hand across her face. “Darling, do you think we could get back to trying to find the princess now?”

“I suppose.” He let the last few coins slip from his palms and shut the lid. “We still need to search the rest of the castle after all.”

“Darling! Don’t say it like it’s an afterthought! Saving her is the whole reason we came!”

Waldo glanced at the chests that were still open. “Of course, it is.”

XXX

Everything in those chests were emptied into a burlap sack for Gronk to carry. They left the dungeons and climbed the steps up to the second floor. Waldo was now quite certain that Ahab had fled. If the man had been anywhere nearby, he would have sensed him. That likely meant the princess was either gone or dead. Waldo couldn’t believe any mage would flee while leaving behind his most valuable asset. That meant all that was left for them was to finish looting the place, confirm the princess was nowhere to be found or else retrieve her corpse, inform the king’s messenger the sad news (while possibly delivering said corpse), and then return to Lunatown weighed down with everything they’d stolen. Waldo would even be generous and not demand a reward from the king.

He hoped Alice wouldn’t be in one of her moods. She could just be so unreasonable at times. Well, if she was, he would offer to do Savage Barbarian Chief and Innocent Village Girl.

The second floor was a long hallway with doors on one side, with most of them left open. Halfway down the hall there was a side corridor. As soon as Waldo stepped onto the second floor a faint scratch touched his mind. There was magic somewhere nearby. Not enough for a mage, but enough for a magical item or spell.

“Let’s go down the side corridor, Gronk.”

“Sure thing, master.” Gronk once more led the way.

“Do you think you know where she is?” Alice asked.

“Perhaps, but remember that if we find her, we will probably also find Ahab.”

She nodded. “If we do, we’ll deal with him and definitely save her!” Her tail quivered.

“Of course,” Waldo agreed. No reason to disappoint her until it was necessary.

As soon as they rounded the corner, they saw another short corridor with three standard doors on either side. At the far end were a pair of eight-foot-tall metal doors made of brass and polished to shine as if they were gold. The magic Waldo sensed was on the other side of those doors.

“Well, I can guess where the audience chamber is,” Waldo said.

How pretentious, he thought. It would never even occur to his mother to try and impress people with polished metal. When visitors came to Castle Corpselover they were awed by his mother’s power and the power of his House. Trying to appear greater than he was with such silly displays only proved even more how weak Ahab was.

“Let’s be proper guests and pay our respects.”

“Sure thing, master.”

The ogre sauntered ahead as he and Alice were two paces behind. When Gronk reached them, he gave the doors a shove and threw them open. They hadn’t been locked. Waldo saw the room was indeed an audience chamber. Near the far wall was a high-backed wooden chair he assumed was supposed to be a throne. It was gaudy, with velvet padding stitched to it and the frame painted gold. Behind the chair was a burgundy curtain draped across most of the wall. The curtain framed a massive portrait of a man who looked to be in his forties with a receding hairline and goatee that ended in a point. On the other walls hung more paintings, almost all of them showing the same man in various poses. The sole exception was a portrait of an attractive young woman with dark hair and brown eyes. To the right of the chair was a balcony that overlooked the courtyard, the door to it was open. Besides the chair there were no other furnishings in the room, it was empty.

Except for the body lying face down in the middle of the floor with a dagger sticking out of its back.

“Huh,” Waldo said. “This is a bit of a surprise.”

Chapter 13

Princess Ilyena

“Well, looks like someone had a hostile work environment,” Gronk said with a snort.

Alice planted her hands on her hips. “Justice has been done.”

“Justice?” Waldo looked over at her.

“Justice!” Alice gave a satisfied nod. “He was evil, and this is what people who are evil deserve.”

“On the day you meet my mother please keep those opinions to yourself. I thought you didn’t want him killed.”

“I didn’t want him murdered. There’s a huge difference between murdering someone and killing them after a fair trial.”

“You sure about that? The end result looks the same to me.”

“There a problem, master?” Gronk asked. “I mean we were going to kill him or bring him with us to be killed later, right?”

“That’s true,” Waldo admitted. “It’s just that ‘justice’ is a concept I don’t much care for. It’s something Melissa loves to talk about.”

Hearing that name Alice frowned. “Darling, not everyone who believes in justice is a crazy fanatic.”

“Perhaps not, but it does seem to help.”

Waldo strolled over and inspected the body. The man was dressed in a mage’s robes that were all one color: lemon yellow. (Except for the red stain on his back.) No doubt the color choice was meant to fill onlookers with sheer terror. The fact his robes were all a single color was a bit unusual. Except for White Mages and Dark Mages, most spell casters preferred robes with multiple colors, patterns, or words stitched into them. In this respect the mages from the Torikai Guild were rather typical. Most independent mages tried to stand out as much as possible. Well, Waldo thought, I suppose going around like a giant daffodil is pretty memorable too.

The knife had been buried all the way to the hilt, and it looked like there’d been only a single thrust. Waldo was an expert at human anatomy thanks to all the lessons he’d had on prisoners and slaves as an apprentice. The knife had gotten the heart. He could see Ahab was still clutching his wand in his right hand. The idiot had likely died without getting a single attack in. You trusted someone, didn’t you? What a poor excuse for an evil mage. If you’d grown up in Alter, you’d have never made it to adulthood.

Waldo grabbed the man by the shoulder and rolled him onto his side. Though he hadn’t had any doubts, he confirmed that the dead man was the person in the portrait and other paintings. His eyes were wide open, and an expression of shock was still on his face. Without hesitation, Waldo began going through the many pockets.

“Darling, should you really be doing that right now?”

“Are you worried he’s going to object?” Waldo didn’t look back at her and kept his focus on what was important. He found small pouches with different ingredients in them; Devil’s grass, mandrake, and ground sulphur among them.

“Can’t searching a corpse wait until after we find the princess?” Alice sounded irritated.

“Not if you have the right priorities.”

There was a drawn-out sigh followed by foot tapping. Through the Bond he sensed a great deal of annoyance. Fortunately, he was used to that. Waldo spotted a leather purse cinched to the man’s belt. Opening it he found thirty-three gold coins of various mints and a hundred silver. Given the exchange rate for gold this was more money than they’d found in the vault. The coins and the different ingredients were all great prizes, but what he wanted most was in a deep pocket on the robe’s outer right side. It was Ahab’s spellbook.

Waldo sat himself down next to the body and opened the book. This was the fourth spellbook he’d acquired, since losing his original. The others having been ‘acquired’ from Roger, Melissa, and Leiznam. Each book had provided him with useful spells, potion recipes, and seal formulas. They’d also contained spells that were useless to him. Melissa’s wind magic came to mind. Even with three spellbooks there were still gaps. What was missing weren’t spells, since he’d been almost completely unable to use anything other than Healing and protective magic. No, what he lacked were the potion recipes and sealing formulas that had been in his original spellbook. Those he’d been able to use just fine and wanted back.

He was not surprised to find the drawing of a summoning circle on the opening page. Surrounding the circle was the inscription for summoning a dog. Written beneath was the incantation that would be needed. The following page was the summoning circle for a lion. Wolf, bear, tiger, bull… the first thirty pages were all summoning circles. They were worthless to him; he couldn’t even summon a homunculus. After that came some basic spells in the Schools of Invocation, Evocation, and Elemental. A couple of them, Ice and Killing Bolt, might be useful if he could actually perform them. It seemed Ahab had only had a single Talent, as there were no deeper magics of any School other than Summoning.

The most precious finds were in the last third of the spellbook. Here was a long and comprehensive list of potions and seals. Seeing them Waldo grinned from ear to ear. With these he could now make most of what he’d known back before setting out. They were worth more than all the gold and silver in this little castle. He shut the book and slid it into one of the many pockets of his robe. Standing back up Waldo felt more satisfied than he had since first meeting Luna. He’d gone through all the man’s pockets and was sure there was nothing left to steal. The only item that remained was the wand.

Another mage’s wand was useless to him, but he wanted it anyway. He reached down and yanked it out of Ahab’s cold, dead hand. It was a foot long and was made of cedar. It emanated the faint magical aura that had drawn him here. He turned the wand a bit to get a look at the words of power carved into it:

My Queen Ilyena

Waldo raised an eyebrow and glanced down at the body. Just what sort of idiot were you?

“If you’re done corpse robbing can we please start searching for the princess?” Alice sounded even more impatient than before.

“Oh, I suppose,” Waldo said. “We were going to search the entire castle any way. If she’s still here we will find her.”

“And return her safely home,” Alice added.

He shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

After saying those words there was a rustle from behind the curtains backing the portrait. A young woman in a bright yellow dress popped out. She had bronze skin, brown eyes, a slim figure, and long raven black hair tied into a single braid that went halfway down her back. She was the same woman as in the one painting.

“My hero!” The girl cried out. “Thank you, for saving me! I’ve been so scared!”

The three of them were caught off guard by her sudden appearance. Alice was the one who recovered first. With a relieved smile she ran up to the girl with her arms out to give her a hug.

“Princess Ilyena! I’m so glad you’re safe! We’ll-”

The girl let loose a scream and bolted, she ran away from Alice as fast as she could. Alice came to an abrupt halt and looked confused.

“What’s wrong? There’s nothing for you to be afraid of.”

“Except maybe for the blood drenched succubus running at her with claws and fangs?” Gronk noted with a smirk.

“Oh. Right.” Alice had remained in her true form while searching the castle. She transformed back into her human appearance.

As this transpired the young lady made a wide arc to avoid the equally blood-soaked ogre and raced straight towards an unsuspecting Waldo. Before he could defend himself or cast any protective spells, she slammed into him, wrapping her arms about his waist, and burying her face into his chest.

“Please, save me from your monsters!”

Waldo tried to squirm free, but the girl had a surprisingly tight grip for a human her size. “Ah, uhm, Princess Ilyena I presume?” He thought of the wand he was still holding. “Or should that be queen?”

The girl was a bit smaller than he was and so turned her face up with a bashful smile. “I am indeed Princess Ilyena Ghenadie of Alazan. You have my deepest and most sincere thanks for rescuing me. You cannot imagine how frightening it was to be a helpless prisoner living in fear all this time.”

Waldo peeked over at the body at his feet. The one with the knife buried in its back. “Helpless. Yes. Can you let go of me now?”

“My apologies, I suppose this is a bit unseemly,” she released him.

Waldo took a couple quick steps to put some distance between them. Ilyena continued to smile but tilted her head slightly. “Is something the matter?”

“No, everything is as wonderful as a day without blue skies and the horrible ball of fire.”

Ilyena blinked. “May I know your name good sir?”

“I am Master Waldo Rabbit,” he motioned to his ogre. “This is Gronk, and that,” he nodded over at Alice. “Is Alice.”

“They’re both terrifying monsters,” Ilyena said with a shiver. “I believe all the stories now. Your yellow eyes and your immense power, you truly are a White Mage like those in the songs. I watched everything from the balcony with Ahab. Seeing you slaughter all his animals made him scream and start pulling out what little hair he still had.”

“That must have been awful,” Alice approached looking sympathetic. She was still caked in blood but at least looked human.

Ilyena sidestepped to avoid her. “It was. As soon as he saw how strong you were, he knew he was going to lose.” She kept her eyes on Waldo and moved towards him and away from Alice.

Waldo skipped over to Gronk’s side. “Then he wasn’t a complete idiot,” Waldo handed Ahab’s wand to the ogre. “Eat this.”

“Yum,” Gronk took it and promptly made a snack of it.

Ilyena hesitated, it was clear she wanted to be near Waldo, but did not want to get any closer to Gronk. As she stood there uncertain, Alice finally made it to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I know it must have been horrible, but you’re safe now. We’ll take you home and back to your father. Everything will be fine now, princess.”

Ilyena stiffened and the smile plastered on her face trembled. She dipped her shoulder and shuffled to her right, causing Alice’s hand to slip off. “How wonderful,” she sighed. “I can hardly wait to see father again. He’s in good health I hope?”

“I have no idea,” Waldo said. “We haven’t met him. One of his servants came and asked us for help.”

“I’m sure that’s because all his knights are dead,” Ilyena didn’t sound particularly heartbroken. “He must have been truly desperate to turn to an outsider.”

“I’m sure any father would do whatever he had to, to save his daughter,” Alice said.

“Oh, I am sure father is anxious to have me back. I am precious to him. I am his only child and heir.”

“I know what it’s like to grow up alone,” Alice said with sympathy.

“Actually, I had two older brothers, both idiots. One died in a riding accident and the other fell down a flight of stairs.”

Hearing that Waldo raised an eyebrow.

“How awful!” Alice said. “I never had any brothers or sisters. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to lose them.”

Ilyena finally glanced in Alice’s direction. “It was fine. Like I said they were both idiots, and it made me my father’s heir.”

“By any chance were you present when your brothers had their… accidents?’ Waldo asked.

“I was. Their deaths were tragic, but I dealt with it as best I could.”

“Oh, I believe that.”

Ilyena placed both hands over her heart and cast her eyes down. “Master Waldo, I cannot tell you how profoundly grateful I am to you. Ahab kidnapped me and threatened to do unspeakable things to me. He was a brute and I was ever in fear for my very life!”

Waldo looked past her to the painting hanging on the wall, then at the body. “It must have been awful.”

She shivered and looked up at him with tears running down her face. “I was defenseless and always at his mercy. He was a beast! I never knew what he might do to me! Every night I prayed to the gods for salvation and-”

“That’s enough,” Waldo sighed.

Her eyebrows quirked and her eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

“I said that was enough,” Waldo repeated sounding annoyed. “I am not the best judge of character and people surprise me occasionally. But there’s one thing I’ll always recognize, and that’s when someone is playing up to me. I grew up in a castle filled with slaves who would always tell me whatever they thought I wanted to hear. So please stop.”

Ilyena gasped and fresh tears appeared. “I… I don’t know what you mean.”

“Darling,” Alice said. “How can you say something so mean to a helpless girl?”

Waldo shrugged. “I wouldn’t call her helpless. She killed an armed mage with one knife stab. Even if Ahab was incompetent that’s still something to be proud of.”

“Darling! No girl could ever murder someone in cold blood like that! Especially not a princess!”

“Let me guess, you know that from all the bard songs you’ve heard.”

Alice crossed her arms over her chest and glared.

“Master Waldo,” Ilyena half sobbed. “How could you think something so terrible of me?”

“What do you mean terrible? I said it’s something to be proud of.”

“I… I could never… the very idea… I was so scared…” Ilyena’s words were drowned out by tears as she sobbed into her hands.

Waldo noticed she was peeking between fingers to observe his reaction.

“Darling. You need to apologize, right now. Can’t you see what you’re doing to this poor girl?”

Alice tried to give the girl a comforting hug, but the princess managed to slip away while continuing to loudly weep.

Waldo sighed. “Princess, if it wasn’t you, who killed Ahab?”

Her crying came to an abrupt halt. She straightened and wiped her cheeks. “I’m not sure. There was a knock on the door. Ahab told me to hide behind the curtain while he answered. It was one of the servants, I’m not sure what was said but there was an argument. Then Ahab cried out in pain. By the time I peeked out from behind the curtain he was dead and whoever had done it was gone.”

Waldo frowned at her. “That’s a lie.”

“H… How could you…” Ilyena was on the verge of fresh tears.

Alice had her fists planted on her hips ready to start yelling at him.

“You’re telling me that seeing all his summons being killed and already planning to run away he simply opened the door and was overpowered by one of his servants?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Even though he had a wand in hand and had told you to hide? Mages are not usually that easy to kill except when taken by surprise. I also have trouble imagining him arguing with a servant and then turning his back to the person. Ahab seems to have been incompetent, but that is a mind-boggling degree of stupidity. And if he were really killed in such a manner wouldn’t his body be near the door and not the middle of the room? And why would a mundane servant deliberately risk his life to murder his master rather than just run away with all the others? And why would said murderer take such a massive risk, succeed, and then not at the very least steal Ahab’s purse? None of what you’ve said make any sense. Would you like to try again?”

Ilyena hesitated. “Ah, well, I, perhaps… maybe… misremembered?”

“Misremembered?” Waldo stared at her as did Gronk. Even Alice was looking uncertain.

Ilyena glanced at each of their faces and sighed. “You’re not going to believe that I’m innocent, are you Master Waldo?”

“No, I am not.”

She nodded and wiped away the last of her tears. “All the stories say White Mages are clever. You’re the first one I’ve ever met, and I’ll confess you are much more astute than Ahab or any other man I’ve known. Very well, yes, it was me. I killed him when his back was turned.”

Alice gasped. Waldo simply nodded.

“Do you think less of me for killing him, Master Waldo?”

“Not at all. You are just the sort of girl my mother would like.”

Chapter 14

An Offer

“Wait!” Alice gawked at the princess with her jaw hanging open. “You really did kill him?”

“That is what I said.”

Alice then rounded on Waldo. “And what do you mean your mother would like her?! Are you saying your mother would approve of murder?!”

Waldo blinked. “Well of course. In addition, she is attractive, intelligent, and well mannered. Really the only negative I can see is the fact she cannot use magic.”

Ilyena smiled and performed a graceful curtsey. “Thank you, Master Waldo.”

“Darling! How can you be so accepting about someone who admits to being a killer?”

Ilyena looked to her and spoke with the sort of tone you would use while explaining something to a child. “You say that standing there covered in blood? I was watching you from the window. You are a far greater killer than I could ever dream of being.”

“That’s different! I was killing dangerous animals that were attacking us. Killing an animal or monster is nothing like killing a man.”

“Sweetie,” Gronk said. “You forget about us killing all those thieves back in Norwich?”

“That’s different! They were all criminals trying to ambush us, I didn’t have a choice. There’s nothing wrong with killing people who are trying to kill you. If you’re stabbing someone in the back you’re obviously not in danger. When it’s not self-defense, it’s murder. I would never murder someone.”

“Didn’t you want to murder Cleptus?” Waldo asked.

“That’s different! Cleptus was dangerous.”

“And you think Ahab the Dread wasn’t?” Ilyena asked with a tone dry enough to preserve fish.

“You stabbed him in the back!”

“It’s the safest way to do it.” Ilyena pantomimed clawing the air. “Not all of us are monsters you know.”

Alice narrowed her eyes. “You’re not even a bit sorry, are you?”

“I was done with him. He wanted to run away. I knew it would be better for me to remain, so I did what I had to. Do you expect me to cry over it?”

“Yes! What kind of woman kills someone and doesn’t even shed a tear?”

“A princess of Alazan I suppose.”

“By the way, how did you acquire the dagger?” Waldo asked.

“Oh, that? As soon as I seduced Ahab, I told him I’d feel safer if I could keep a weapon on me. He gave me the knife and let me carry it.”

“You got a mage to arm you and turn his back to you?”

“That’s right.”

“Yes,” Waldo said. “My mother would most definitely like you.”

Both women faced him. Ilyena with a delighted smile. Alice with a scowl.

“Were you ever really his captive?”

“At the very beginning I was. He just saw me as a valuable prisoner and wanted to ransom me. But a few tears, a few pleas, a few touches, a few kisses, and a few nights of pleasure and he was mine.”

“You slept with him?!” Alice sounded horrified.

Ilyena stared at her in surprise. “You are a succubus. You must know better than anyone that a woman’s greatest weapon is between her thighs.”

“I know all about women selling themselves to men! You’re a whore!”

“I am a princess.”

“Which doesn’t make you any less of a whore!”

Ilyena dismissed her with a flick of her hand. “I did what I needed to, to get Ahab to serve me. It was a small price to pay.”

Why can’t Alice think that way? Waldo wondered.

“In any case,” the princess ignored Alice’s glare and spoke to Waldo. “Before long I’d convinced Ahab that I had fallen in love with him and that it was fate that had brought us together. I told him that he shouldn’t settle for a bag of silver or some prize steeds. He could force my father to permit our marriage and that Ahab could be king of Alazan.”

“With you at his side as his beloved queen.”

“Of course.”

“But not for very long.”

Ilyena stood there and smiled.

“You were just using him to make yourself queen!” Alice accused.

“That’s right,” Ilyena said, calm as a spring day. “I’m sure you understand.”

“What do you mean?” Alice growled.

“You’re a succubus, aren’t you? Ahab knew what you were the moment he saw you flying. You use men all the time, don’t you?”

“I do not! I have never ever used my abilities on any man!”

“Hey sweetie?” Gronk tapped the hilt of Rabbitslayer. “Remind me again, how I got this sword?”

Alice sent him a furious scowl. The ogre scampered behind Waldo and crouched down to try and hide.

“Okay, maybe I’ve used it once or twice. But only when it was absolutely necessary! I would never use my Charm on a man for my own selfish desires!”

“Unfortunately,” Waldo muttered.

That earned him a scowl too.

“My point,” Ilyena continued. “Is that the path to power is different for a woman than it is for a man. There’s nothing wrong with using the gifts we are born with to get the things we want.”

“There’s everything wrong with it! I grew up seeing it and it’s vile! A woman should only do those kinds of things with the one she loves. Doing them with anyone else is just disgusting!”

Ilyena shook her head. “If you were an ordinary girl, I’d call you naïve. But for a succubus to spout that kind of nonsense, you’re a fool.”

“What?” Alice clenched her fists, and her fangs began growing.

“In this world you either use or are used. Most women just end up spending their whole lives doing whatever their fathers or husbands want. Even as a princess I wasn’t allowed a say in who I married. Whoever my father chose would be the next king, while I was expected to be nothing more than a proper wife and mother. If I wanted more, I had to make certain sacrifices. I do what I have to, to get what I want.”

“You’re a monster!”

“Look who’s talking.”

Waldo coughed into his hand, drawing the focus of both women. “Well, this has been an informative conversation, but it’s irrelevant. I think we’ve stolen everything worth taking from this place, so we’ll escort you to the messenger and you can go home, Princess Ilyena.”

“So that father can sell me off to the highest bidder,” she did not look pleased.

“What happens to you after you return is none of my concern.”

“Perhaps it could be,” she purred. “Power is precious, even more precious than land or wealth. You crushed Ahab, have Great Monster familiars, and you are a White Mage straight out of the stories. If I tell my father all about your incredible power and bravery, he might… no, he would see you as the ideal candidate for my hand in marriage. Master Waldo, how would you like to be king?”

Chapter 15

Never Say That To Alice

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Alice sputtered. “As if he would ever consider such a thing! Tell her, darling!”

Silence.

“Ah, darling? Aren’t you going to tell her how stupid her idea is?”

Waldo rubbed his chin and had a faraway look in his eyes. “Me as king of a country. Mother would be so proud.”

“And all you’d have to do,” Gronk lisped. “Is marry someone who likes killing mages. No problem there, right master?”

“Ah, good point,” Gronk’s words brought him back to reality.

“Never mind the fact that you’re already married,” Alice had both hands planted firmly on her hips. He could feel mounting fury through the Bond. “Or have you forgotten, darling?”

“There’s no way I would forget,” Waldo said. “But you know, there are cultures that allow for multiple wives. Out of curiosity, if I were to-”

“No. Never,” she growled. “I wouldn’t let you have any other woman as a lover. Never mind a wife!”

“Your silly rules are so inconvenient,” he muttered beneath his breath.

“You would have nothing to fear, Master Waldo,” Ilyena spoke up. “Ahab was nothing more than a tool to me.”

Waldo lifted an eyebrow. “But I’d be different? Let me guess, in the ten minutes we have known each other you’ve fallen in love with me.”

“I would never think to try and fool a man like you the way I did Ahab. He explained to me how summoning magic works. He wasn’t strong enough to summon monsters, not even a kobold. The moment he saw you had an ogre and succubus he was terrified. He told me that it was next to impossible to summon a Great Monster, never mind two. He said you had to be one of the strongest summoners in the world!”

That would have been true if he’d actually summoned Gronk and Alice. To summon a Great Monster was a feat that demanded a Talent in Summoning, great mastery of the art, and a vast reserve of mana, and even then, failure was likely ninety-nine times out of a hundred. It was considered practically impossible. (Sort of like acquiring a dragon’s egg or a dragon.) Even his mother, powerful as she was, had captured Enver, not acquired him with a spell. Being a summoner, Ahab had jumped to the wrong conclusion. And not knowing any better, Ilyena had taken him at his word.

“Well, I am immensely powerful. Certainly, far more so than an incompetent like Ahab.”

Ilyena nodded. “Which means I would be a fool to treat you the way I did him. I am sure that the two of us could come to a mutually beneficial arrangement.” She licked her lips and slid a single finger along the top of her bosom. “I know how to be very pleasant company.”

Gronk giggled. “Oh honey, don’t even try. Master is a married to succubus and I’ve heard them play barbarian chief and innocent village girl. Trust me, you’ve got nothing on her.”

As Gronk said this, there was the sound of flesh tearing. Leather wings sprouted out of Alice’s back. Her tail was lashing about so fast it was a blur, her claws were all the way out, and she was baring her fangs.

“You murderous whore!”

“Eek!” Ilyena bolted and got behind Waldo before he could move.

Alice was about to race in after her but stopped when Waldo held up a hand. He did not like having the princess against his back or seeing Alice so angry.

“Stop, no killing the princess we came here to save. This was your idea, remember?”

“I only wanted to rescue her because I expected her to be an innocent girl in need of help! If I knew what she really was I’d have never said a word!”

Waldo shrugged. “Well now you know better.”

Ilyena peeked out from behind Waldo’s back. “Why are you angry?”

“You need to ask?! You’re trying to seduce my husband right in front of me!”

“But you’re a succubus! Shouldn’t you be accepting of sex in all forms? Why would you be upset by me flirting with Master Waldo?”

“She has a point you know,” Waldo said.

“Don’t start!” Alice snapped shifting her glare from Ilyena to Waldo before turning it back again.

“All the stories describe succubi as creatures of seduction, as lust incarnate. I’ve never heard of a jealous succubus,” Ilyena said.

“You shouldn’t believe everything you hear in stories,” Alice told her.

“A lesson both of you could stand to learn,” Waldo noted.

“Whose side are you on?!” Alice demanded.

“The side trying to avoid an act of princesscide I suppose.”

Alice narrowed her eyes to slits. “Darling, don’t tell me you’re actually interested in this harlot.”

“As a woman? Of course not. Believe me, Alice. When it comes to beauty and physical attraction, no woman could ever compare to you. That said… the thought of being a king, even if it’s of a flyspeck country, is just a bit intriguing. I don’t think anyone’s ever conquered a country during their First Quest. It would be a very impressive accomplishment.”

“I am so very happy to hear that,” Ilyena said. She stepped out from his shadow and placed a hand gently on his arm. “If you’ll return with me to Alazan I am sure it can be arranged.”

Alice was rooted to the spot, her eyes throwing daggers at the hand touching Waldo.

He rubbed his chin and looked at the princess. “What precisely would I need to do?”

“Just accompany me and let me spin the tale. I’ll tell him of your heroism and terrifying magics! When he stares into your beautiful, golden eyes and sees you have an ogre and succubus as your servants, he will know you are a true White Mage.”

“Tell me, do these stories ever mention the fact my order is plotting to take over the world?”

“You are? The stories all say your people go about helping others without ever accepting a reward. They all mark you as true heroes.”

He grinned. “That is mere propaganda meant to fool the masses into believing us trustworthy. The truth is everything we do is part of a vast conspiracy designed to bring the Shattered Lands under our control.”

“I see,” the princess didn’t appear even slightly put out by this revelation. “Well, it would be best to let that remain a secret. To appear selfless and valiant would serve our needs better.”

“I see,” Waldo sighed. “I suppose that makes sense given what a savage and barbaric place this is.”

Ilyena gave him an odd look then spoke. “My father was searching for the best candidate to be the next king. My original plan was to force him to accept Ahab as my husband, and then use magic to remove my adversaries and seize full control. But with you the plan can be more subtle. My father will certainly view you as the best candidate to be my husband and the next king. No mere nobleman or son of royalty can even compare to you.”

Waldo nodded. “I agree that should be obvious.”

Gronk and Alice performed identical eye rolls.

“Once we are married and you are recognized as the Crown Prince, we’ll need to wait a few years as I build up influence in the royal court and dispose of those who may take issue with me. Once the groundwork is complete, we can remove my father and rule together. Oh, and if you can give me a baby that will make the path smoother.”

“What?” Waldo said.

“What?” Gronk gasped.

“What?” Alice growled and took a menacing step closer.

Ilyena cast a fearful glance towards Alice and scuttled back behind Waldo.

“Why are you all surprised? Every royal couple is expected to have children.”

“You don’t love him but want to have his babies?!” Alice demanded.

“What does love have to do with marriage?”

Waldo just barely stopped himself from nodding.

“You are never going to sleep with him,” Alice declared. “Never mind have his children. The only one who’ll have his babies will be me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ilyena said. “Of course, Master Waldo and I will lay together. A marriage is not acknowledged otherwise. If we did not share a bed it would be a scandal. I have no objection if he keeps you as a mistress, so long as he is discreet.”

“Mistress? I am his wife!”

“In Alazan and all the other nearby countries marriage is only between humans. He can call you his wife if he likes, but no one will see your union as real.”

Alice sucked in a breath and began to shake.

“Oh princess,” Gronk mumbled. “You did it now.”

Through the Bond Waldo could sense nothing but wave upon wave of murderous intent.

“All right, I think that’s enough,” Waldo walked away from Ilyena and up to Alice.

“Darling, what are you-”

Waldo wrapped his arms about her and pulled Alice into an embrace. “There’s no reason to be so upset. You are my wife. What some princess from an irrelevant country thinks doesn’t matter at all. My homeland is civilized. Marriages between humans and nonhumans are commonplace. When I return home, I will introduce you to my mother and name you my wife.” Whether or not she’ll acknowledge you as such is another matter.

Alice’s wings folded up and her tail slowed noticeably. She leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder. The flood of violent and murderous emotions were reduced to a mere river.

“Really, darling? You mean it?”

“I do. You are my wife, Alice. I love you.” He was not proud admitting to such a weakness but could always work on it in the future. He kissed her. Her tail immediately went limp and the desire for murder was down to a trickle.

When the kiss ended, he turned to look over his shoulder at a disappointed Ilyena.

“I am afraid I will have to decline your offer. While I’ll admit being a king, even in name only, is intriguing. I’d only be interested if it could be arranged within a few weeks. A couple months at the very most. I have important things to do in Lunatown and a longer absence than that is simply not possible. I intend to complete my First Quest and return home in the near future. Spending a few years playing at royalty is simply out of the question. Plus, I’m quite certain Alice would murder you.”

Alice nodded.

“Is there anything I could offer you that would change your mind?”

“By any chance does your family own a dragon’s egg?”

“… I don’t believe so.”

“Then, as we’ve already looted this place, I think we are done here. We will escort you back to your kingdom.”

“Darling?” Alice purred in his ear. “Could I have just a few minutes alone with the princess?”

“Why?’ Waldo asked suspicious.

“I just want to have a short chat with her, woman to woman.”

“I’d prefer not to be left alone with her,” Ilyena said, color draining from her face.

“You’re not going to murder her, are you?” Waldo asked. “Since we came here just to rescue her it might damage my reputation.”

“Darling, do you really think I would do something like that?”

“Yes.”

Alice placed a hand to her heart. “I only want to talk to her and explain a few things, that’s all.”

“Just talk?” Waldo remained skeptical. “You’re not going to break her arms, slice off her breasts, or scalp her?”

“Master Waldo, I would really, really, rather not be left alone with her.”

“Darling,” Alice said in a voice sweet as honey. “I’m not the sort to be violent for no reason.”

Hearing that both Waldo’s ankles and the back of his head began to ache. Gronk rubbed his arm.

“Very well, just remember no killing her and no major injuries. At the very least it has to be something I can heal.”

“Master Waldo, I beg you, give her an order not to hurt me!” A panicking Ilyena said. “Ahab told me about familiars and Contracts and how they cannot defy a direct order.”

That was of course how the Contract between master and familiar normally worked. Waldo was not about to explain to Ilyena that his Contracts with Alice and Gronk were partially defective. It would have been embarrassing. Instead, he nodded and spoke to Alice with a firm tone.

“Alice, I order you not to kill or harm Princess Ilyena.”

She nodded and answered, sounding as submissive as could be. “Yes, darling.”

“I mean it. I’ll be terribly upset with you if anything happens to her.”

“I understand.”

“All right then, meet us outside once you’re done talking. Gronk grab everything and let’s go.”

“Sure thing, master.” Gronk piled everything onto his back and followed Waldo out the door. Just before exiting the ogre looked back over his shoulder at the princess. He placed a stubby finger to the side of his throat then slashed it across from one ear to the other. Gronk sauntered out and shut the door.

The two women were alone in the room. (Not counting the corpse of course.)

The princess stood there, doing her best to control her breathing and resist the urge to shake.

Alice smiled at her. “So, I’m not really his wife?”

“Ah, what I meant-”

“You know you’re not the first person to tell me that to my face,” Alice’s tone was pleasant, and her smile never wavered. “I am not human; the I cannot deny. But I am every inch a woman, and I love Waldo more than a murderous scheming whore like you could ever hope to understand. When he offered me flowers and proposed to me it was the most romantic and wondrous moment of my life. I was a prisoner at the time, and he had to pay a fortune to free me, a hundred gold coins.”

“A hundred? My father never offered more than five!”

“That should give you an idea of who matters more.”

“Well, my kingdom isn’t wealthy and five-”

“Waldo is the only man I have ever been with. I was an innocent maid when he took my virginity. He is a tender and gentle lover, and I am faithful to him. I would never even think to share my bed with anyone other than my husband. I left my homeland to be with him. I’ve faced many dangers at his side and come close to death more than once. I’ve travelled here, to the edge of the Shattered Lands for him and I would do anything he asked of me. I am his, body, mind, and soul. Do you really believe I would stand by and let someone like you be with him?”

“I… well I…” Princess Ilyena suddenly curtsied and lowered her face. “I had no idea. Please forgive me. I meant no offense.”

There was silence. When the princess turned her face up Alice was still standing there, smiling.

“He… He gave you a direct order to not harm me.”

Alice stretched out her wings and took a step towards her. “Princess, have you ever wanted to fly?”

“What?”

XXX

Just as he reached the stairs Waldo thought he heard a woman’s scream. In that same instant there was a jolt of sudden joy from Alice’s Bond. He decided to ask her about it later.

XXX

Out in the courtyard he found Ilyena’s broken and lifeless body planted face first into the ground. The spine was bent and close to being snapped in two. When he and Gronk arrived at the scene Alice was standing there. She’d transformed back into her human form and was the picture of innocence.

“Alice! I told you not to hurt her. What happened?”

“She jumped,” Alice said, voice dripping with earnest sincerity.

“She jumped?”

“She jumped.”

“Alice, this is about a hundred yards from the balcony.”

“She jumped hard.”

“She jumped hard?”

“She jumped hard.”

He stood there and looked at her for a moment and then sighed. “Good to know. Gronk.”

“Yes, master?”

“Stuff her in a sack and let’s go.”

Chapter 16

The Reason I Have Come

The Corpselover army was in camp just a few miles from Stratford. The war would finally begin tomorrow. Her forces were spread out all along the road, with her own camp being the center point. In this world ten thousand soldiers made a large army, and most nations could not field such a force. Her undead were packed in chest to spine a hundred deep. Her living troops had tents set up covering acres. She had well over two hundred and twenty thousand, it was the largest army among the Seven Great Houses and certainly one of the largest in the world.

Among this number one hundred and ninety thousand were undead, and a hundred thousand of those were her own creations. In addition to this vast horde there were thirty-seven thousand living soldiers, of which five thousand were well trained and equipped house troops. Best of all, there were sixty-three Dark Mages present, including herself. It was a common military axiom that an army with magic always held the advantage over one without. Most of her mages, of course, were necromancers, but there were other Talents as well and she would put them all to good use.

Her military power was simply overwhelming, and hers was only one of six armies. She did not expect any serious battles until they faced the legions of Avalon. The Houses had all made agreements about who would handle what in this opening stage of the war. Darius and Tiberius were marching on Dregal. Darius had a real itch to take King Doran alive and make an example of him. He also hoped that razing Dregal’s capital would send a message to other countries about what happened if you joined the Alliance. Considering they were planning to invade and conquer a host of nations that hadn’t, Lilith really didn’t see the point. But Darius wanted it, so that was where the Heartless and Blackwater armies were fighting.

Houses Wormwood and Soulbreaker were invading Wylef. The main reason for that was probably that Gawreth wanted to keep his troops as far away from Darius as possible. Xilos was tagging along because sharing the roadways with one other army was easier than sharing it with two.

The Blooddrinker army was camped several miles south of where she was. While Lilith had rejected Baldwin’s offer of cooperation, they’d still reached an understanding. After she took her prize her army would clear the road and allow the Blooddrinkers to pass through onto Middleton. The Houses had to compromise and work together to some degree or the entire campaign would be a mess. Every House had claimed at least one territory in each of the northern kingdoms. Each House was responsible for occupying and pacifying their new lands. Practically speaking, the Houses that were invading now would do most of the fighting to conquer that nation. Afterwards, all of them would send garrisons along with overseers and governors. She understood how annoying it might be to fight battles and shed blood to conquer a country, only to then hand over most of the land to others. This was why the bidding and careful division of spoils before the fighting was so important. It kept the quarrels between Families to an acceptable minimum.

Lilith knew this would be a problem as soon as they finished with the northern kingdoms and moved on. There were still no agreements as to who would get what from the other lands they planned to acquire. That was guaranteed to cause trouble, but it was a problem for the future. There were more immediate concerns.

“Your first taste of real war,” Elric said with a grin. “Putting down a rebellion is fun, but there’s no comparison. Nothing is as delightful as seeing your enemies crushed by your own hand. I was with your father when he conquered Bescan. We took the city without losing a single soldier. The locals barely out up a fight.”

“So, I’ve heard, many, many times,” Lilith said sounding patient. “I didn’t get to see it myself.”

“Well, you will tomorrow! Our scouts all say there are no knights or mages in Stratford. The city will fall easily. It will be even better than Pontian, I promise you.”

“The situation is a little different,” Horst said. “We’re conquering them, not punishing them for rebellion. We slaughter everyone who tries to fight us of course, but there’s no need for any pointless massacres. When your father handed my father Bescan the city was still intact and most of its people alive. I’m sure the future governor will deeply appreciate it if you spare as many workers as possible.”

“I don’t think that’s anything you need to worry about,” Elric said with obvious condescension.

Lilith was having her dinner by the cookfire. She was surrounded by all the members of her extended family with Hera, Andris, Elric, and Horst sitting closest.

“It might be,” Horst said with a forced smile. “My second son Wessel-”

“Is a child,” Elric cut in. “What is he, twelve?”

“He’s seventeen! A full-grown man and ready to handle anything!”

“He’s a green boy still sucking at his mother’s tit,” Elric shifted his focus from Horst to Lilith. “My son Edwin is thirty-one and has been helping me run Thibodaux for years. He would make a superb governor.”

“Edwin is a brute,” Horst spat. “His answer to every problem is to try and smash it with a hammer!”

“How else would you do it? The people need a firm hand. Do you run your city with hugs and kind words?”

“You give the sheep an occasional whack now and then to keep them from wandering off. If you cave their heads in all you get is a pile of dead sheep. There’s a reason my city always provides twice as much tribute as yours. If your son is as incompetent as you, I doubt Stratford will produce a single copper knuckle.”

The two men scowled at one another. It was unlikely either would be stupid enough to start a fight in front of Lilith, but many family members got up and moved further away, just in case. Lilith continued eating her meal without concern.

“Isn’t your behavior unseemly?” Andris asked. “You should be more courteous in front of the Head of our family.”

The two men turned baleful gazes towards him.

“And who exactly are you to judge us?” Horst replied.

“You forget yourself, overseer,” Elric put special emphasis on his title. “Anything involving two governors is none of your concern. Know your place.”

“Lilith will decide my place,” Andris said with a smug grin. “Just as she decides the place of everyone in the family.”

“Lilith has always been a wise leader of our House,” Horst said.

“I am sure she will choose the person best qualified to govern Stratford, and not play favorites,” Elric said.

All eyes turned to Lilith.

She put down her bowl and stood up. Everyone else immediately stood as well.

“It’s late, and tomorrow will be a busy day. I think I will retire. All of you should get a good night’s sleep as well. Come, Hera.”

The two women departed. Horst and Elric both sent Andris stern looks before going as well. Andris sat back down and finished his meal.

XXX

In the field beside the road hundreds of tents were pitched. There was also a single stone building. It was a simple one room house with four walls, a level roof, and a doorway. It had been created with earth magic just a few hours before. There was no wooden door, a curtain was draped over the entrance. Inside there were no furnishings, just two sets of blankets and pillows set down on the grass. Even for the Head of a Great House, this was as much comfort as could be provided while in the middle of nowhere.

“Your father is getting rather presumptuous, isn’t he?” Lilith said.

“He’s only pointing out the obvious. You’ve shown him your favor, letting him travel with us and remain close. All father was doing was reminding everyone that you make the decisions for House Corpselover. The rest of the family just needs to obey. Elric and Horst need to remember that.”

Lilith raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize I’d appointed him to speak on my behalf.”

She placed a hand to her heart and bent her neck. “He is your faithful servant, as am I.”

“Oh, good. You can pretend to be humble when necessary. I’m glad those lessons weren’t wasted.”

“I am just being truthful, Aunt Lilith.”

“Of course, you are.”

“Both my father and I are deeply grateful to you for everything you have done for us. We will continue to serve you faithfully and well. And though father lacks experience running a city, being a merchant, he understands business and finance. He is smart and will learn the rest quickly. He will definitely be a successful governor.”

Lilith’s mouth twisted. “You and your father are making a lot of assumptions.”

“You’ve taught me to observe the words and actions of others and to draw meaning from them.”

“Oh? Tell me what I have said or done to make you think I will appoint Andris as governor of Stratford.”

“It’s more what you haven’t said. You’ve allowed father to accompany us, that has greatly elevated his status. Horst and Elric aren’t the only ones to notice. More importantly you haven’t mentioned who you’ve chosen. If you were going to choose any of the usual candidates, you would have already done so. The fact you haven’t can only mean you want my father for the position, and you’re keeping it a secret until the last moment to limit the opposition from the other branches.” Hera looked and sounded completely confident in her assessment of the situation.

“Hmmm, I’ll admit that’s a reasonable interpretation. But if that were really my intention why wouldn’t I have told you and your father?”

Doubt flickered across Hera’s face. “If it’s not my father, why would you bother to keep it a secret? Who are you choosing?”

“You’ll understand soon enough. Let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day, and there will be much to do.”

“Before we go to bed, could you tell me where your vampire is? He is normally skulking about near you. But I haven’t seen him since he got up this evening. I don’t like him, and I don’t want to go to sleep not knowing where he is.”

“It’s not in his nature to be likeable, Hera. But then you’re not fond of most men, are you?” Lilith gave an amused chuckle. “You needn’t worry. My familiar is miles away from here at the moment. I’ve given him a certain task to fulfill.”

“He’s scouting the enemy?”

“Something like that,” Lilith said with a smile.

Master and apprentice slipped into their blankets and were soon asleep.

XXX

Lilith woke with a start. She could sense Enver approaching. Through the Bond she could tell her familiar was consumed with fury, disgust, and irritation. Lilith smothered a laugh and tossed the blankets aside. She pulled on her boots and then slipped her robe on over her small clothes. Lilith pushed the curtain aside and exited the house without waking Hera. The night air was cold and snapped her completely awake. The sky was still dark, but just starting to lighten. She would guess sunrise would be within half an hour.

She took out her wand. “Mortis videtur.”

In an instant she was surrounded by a hundred of her undead. Skeletons and walking corpses patiently awaited her command. She didn’t actually need them, but they would add to the décor. Lilith stood there with an eager smile as she sensed her familiar coming nearer. It took a couple minutes. When Enver at last arrived some of the undead shuffled aside to make room for him to pass through. With just a thought Lilith made them move back again so that she was once more surrounded.

The vampire was carrying a huge bulk up on one shoulder that was easily twice his size. It was twisting and wriggling about like a fish on a hook. Enver carried it without any effort. As soon as he was before Lilith, he tossed it down at her feet.

“There you go, mistress,” Enver sneered and wiped his hands on his coat. “Is it what you wanted?”

Lilith looked down at the pathetic creature squirming there. He was a fat, homely man with a tiny scar at the base of his jaw. His arms and legs had been bound tight with bed sheets and his mouth had a rag stuffed into it. He was dressed in nothing but his small clothes and was shivering. He was staring up at her with wide, bloodshot eyes and trying to scream through his gag. The sound reminded her of nothing so much as a suckling pig squealing.

“Oh, yes,” Lilith replied with a delighted sigh.

Enver looked furious. No doubt he could sense her joy through the Bond. Lilith knew her happiness always annoyed him.

“You sent me sneaking into an enemy city just to retrieve this dirty thing? And I couldn’t even have a single meal? Do you have any idea how many terrified women and children there are cowering in dark corners right now? And this is what you made me drag back?”

Enver gave the man a light kick. The vampire surely wanted to rip him apart out of sheer frustration. Visiting a city stuffed to the brim with scared and frightened people and not being allowed a single taste was like forcing a hungry man to walk through a buffet just to retrieve an empty plate. Unfortunately for Enver he could do nothing more than deliver a mild stomp. Among the many very specific orders she’d given him was one that he not cause his target any serious harm. After all, it would have defeated the whole purpose of the exercise if he had been accidentally killed.

“This isn’t about what you want, but what I want. You did very well, Enver. I am pleased with you.”

“I shall try to contain my joy, mistress.”

That got a chuckle out of her. Enver could be entertaining sometimes.

With a thought, two of the walking corpses approached. They each grabbed one arm and hauled the man up to his feet. She had deliberately chosen fresh undead who were still rotting for this. It would be even more horrifying than simple skeletons clutching at him. The way he began shaking and the renewed squeals proved it a good choice.

“Are you scared?” Lilith asked him in the manner a mother might speak to her child. As he continued to twist about, she didn’t think he’d heard her. “Ignoring me? How terribly rude. Obstupefaco.”

All at once his jerking about ceased. The man’s body was suddenly rigid.

“Much better.”

When he’d been paralyzed it has been with his face turned to his right. Lilith reached out and gently rolled his head so he could face her. The spell rendered him mute and unable to so much as blink. She gently caressed his cheek and smiled.

“Are you scared?” Lilith repeated.

Even if she’d removed the rag from his mouth, he couldn’t have answered her. That was fine, all this was merely foreplay. She wanted to set the proper mood. Otherwise, he would not get to fully appreciate what was coming.

“Who is he?” Enver asked. “He’s no lord and certainly no one of any wealth or importance. He lives in four rooms above a workshop. Why are you wasting your time on something like this?”

“His name is Harold Bauer,” she ran the tips of her fingers softly over his scar. “He is a barrel maker, a wood worker, a lover of whores, and of red headed succubi. He is the one who caused my son to be thrown into a river and nearly drowned. And he is the reason I have come here.”

Chapter 17

A Mother’s Love

The sun was well above the horizon. The soldiers had long since had breakfast, broken camp, and marched. Her cavalry had already crossed the Mainz thanks to a bridge made from earth magic a few miles upriver. She did not expect them to have any active part in the fighting. They were just there to slaughter those who tried to flee.

Stratford was a walled city and being located on the border those walls had been maintained and fortified. There were hundreds of men lining the top of them, armed with spears and bows. The gate was (of course) shut. The wooden bridge that had spanned the Mainz river had been put to the torch. Blackened timbers rooted to either bank were all that remained of it.

Do they feel safe? She wondered. With their walls and soldiers and wide river to protect them. Do they feel secure? The instant she had that thought Lilith laughed. She tried to imagine the view the men up on that wall enjoyed. They were looking down upon an army that was more than twenty times their city’s entire populace. The vast majority of which was made up of undead and included dozens of Dark Mages. No, there was no chance those poor fools had any illusions about what was coming.

Despite the hopelessness of their situation though they had not raised a peace banner, the symbol for parlay. The only flags on the field were the eight being held aloft at the head of her army. One had seven black skulls on a field of white, the national standard for Alteroth. The others displayed a dancing skeleton with a red heart within its rib cage, the symbol for House Corpselover. As they weren’t asking for truce that could only mean they wanted battle. They were either very, very brave, or very, very stupid. Well, it wasn’t as if it mattered.

“Is something especially funny, Aunt Lilith?” Hera asked.

“I was just thinking what this must look like from the other side.”

Hera snorted a laugh of her own. “It is pretty ridiculous, isn’t it? A bit like bringing a sledgehammer to smash a pea.”

“It’s ridiculous from our perspective,” Horst said. “From theirs I expect it’s the opposite.”

The same group who’d had dinner with her last night were accompanying her now. Along with one addition.

“Well, I think it’s a joke whichever way you look at it.”

“And what do you think?” Lilith asked the new arrival.

The bed sheets binding his arms and legs had been cut free, though the gag remained. The same pair of walking corpses were holding his arms firm. Lilith had long since removed the paralysis. He’d spent quite a while struggling like a mad dog and letting out muffled screams. He wasn’t fighting now, there weren’t even any tears. He just hung limp in the undead grip and stared back at her with empty, lifeless eyes.

“No opinion?” Lilith teased. “How rude. I may have to punish you for that later.”

She found his lack of reaction a tad disappointing. Well, she was sure to get something from him soon.

Elric approached her. “Niece, why are you entertaining this worm? Even if he did attack your son, he isn’t important.”

“Important?” Lilith grinned at him. “Uncle, I don’t think you know the meaning of the word.”

“You are filled with a mother’s love,” Elric said. It was not a compliment.

“My feelings for my son are none of your concern. Since we have arrived let us be proper guests and knock on their door. Send Evelyn forward to make a path.”

“As you wish, my niece.” Elric bowed his head slightly and went.

Horst departed as well as he was to share command of the army. Hera and Andris stayed behind.

“Is this wise, Aunt Lilith?” Hera asked as soon as Elric and Horst were gone. “You taught me to never reveal weakness. Why are you showing everyone how much you love Waldo?”

Lilith grinned at her apprentice. “You sound jealous.”

“I’m not,” she lied. “Won’t this damage your reputation?”

“Oh, I am sure it will. But my reputation has survived far worse.” Lilith turned back towards Harold. “In any case, some things are worth the price.”

XXX

Six Dark Mages walked past the undead holding the banners aloft. No one else accompanied them. They made their way to the south bank of the river, near the remnants of the old bridge. Up on the wall overlooking them, officers began to shout commands. Soldiers readied bows and nocked arrows. A single yell and about fifty arrows were loosed. The Dark Mages were all within range.

Every arrow struck an unseen ward and was knocked harmlessly aside. The mages had cast barrier spells and were impervious to projectiles. Despite living right on the border with Alteroth, these mundanes were still ignorant of what magic could or could not do. For instance, they did not understand that stone walls, no matter how thick, were vulnerable to magical attack unless warded.

One of the Dark Mages knelt down and pressed both hands into the muddy ground. Evelyn Corpselover, daughter of Baldric and Ritsa, was the only member of the extended family with a strong Talent in earth magic. She spoke the words of an incantation. A thick layer of brown sandstone arched up out of the ground and raced towards the far bank. As she worked, the other five had wands in hand and were casting spells of their own. Balls of fire, streams of lightning, and long bolts of raw mana were conjured into existence. They flew over the water and detonated against the wooden gate and surrounding wall. Flames, chunks of wood, stone, and body part were tossed high into the air to rain back down. Explosions made the air itself shake and left people on both sides momentarily deafened. By the time the long slab of rock touched down on the opposite bank the gate was completely obliterated, and a thirty-yard-wide gap had been blasted into the wall. Just like that, the way into Stratford was opened.

More spells could have torn down the rest of the wall and started leveling the buildings beyond. But rather than continue casting the six mages stood aside. The vast horde of undead began moving. The bridge was wide enough for six to cross, shoulder to shoulder. A seemingly endless column six wide approached. No Dark Mages or living soldiers joined them. The undead would lead the way and take the initial losses. Living forces would only be committed once the defenses were broken. Losses of undead troops were far easier to replace so it made sense to sacrifice the dead and spare the living.

The sight of an unending stream of skeletons and walking corpses approaching, along with the destruction of the gate and a section of the wall, seemed to be enough. By the time, the first undead stepped onto the bridge a pair of white cloths were being frantically waved above the rampart.

XXX

“They’ve brought out peace banners,” Hera made no effort to hide her disappointment.

Andris chuckled at his daughter’s reaction. “They must have had them ready this entire time.”

“Why did they even fight if they were just going to give up?” Hera asked. “They’re idiots.”

Lilith gave a silent nod. “I agree. If you would submit, then submit from the very beginning. If you would resist, then resist to the bitter end.”

“Well,” Andris said. “Foolish or not they are asking for parlay. They’re ready to surrender. The city is yours, cousin. Taken without the loss of a single soldier. Congratulations!”

Lilith said nothing. The undead were still crossing the bridge. A third peace banner could now be seen being wagged frantically.

“Cousin?” Andris said. “The enemy is asking for truce. Aren’t you going to reply?”

“Yes, I will give them an answer.”

Without a word the undead near the flags were in motion. Andris, Hera, and many others expected to see their own peace banners being raised to acknowledge the request from the city. Instead, the undead held aloft six pieces of cloth dyed a bright red; blood banners. The sight made Hera clap her hands and let out a delighted shout. It made Andris send Lilith a look of utter shock.

It wasn’t their reactions that interested her though. From behind Lilith heard a muffled wail. She turned about to see Harold suddenly struggling again. She smiled and strolled towards him.

“Do you know what those banners mean, barrel maker?” She paused and allowed him to produce another stifled cry. “Oh, you don’t? They mean, no quarter, no mercy, no prisoners. Everyone in your city is going to die today.”

He let loose an incoherent scream.

Looking amused, Lilith reached out and yanked the rag from his mouth. “If you have something to say, say it clearly.”

Harold took a couple deep breaths and then spoke. “Please have mercy! They’re good people! Spare them, I beg you!”

“Mercy? Who in their right mind expects mercy from a Dark Mage? Never mind that these good people of yours threw my son into a river. You do recall that don’t you, barrel maker? You were there after all.”

“We didn’t know who he was! We thought he was just another black wizard!”

She raised an eyebrow. “And that makes what you did better?”

“Even if it was wrong the whole city didn’t do it! You can’t punish everyone because of what a few people did!”

“Why not?”

He put his head back and let loose a wail. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I did it for Alice! We all did it for Alice! We just wanted to protect her. We didn’t know what she was. All we wanted was to protect a girl that was special to us.”

“Is that supposed to be an apology? Do you think your sad words will earn you forgiveness? Words aren’t enough. Tears aren’t enough. Some crimes can only be answered with blood. This city attacked my son. For that, I sentence them all to death, and to serve me afterwards. Your words instigated the attack, and so your punishment shall be far worse. You will live, knowing you are the one to blame for all this. I will hide you away in the deepest, darkest cell in my dungeon. You will spend years there doing penance, and never see the sun or sky ever again.” Lilith gave him a bright smile. “I know many, many ways to make someone suffer. I will show them all to you, each one a hundred times over.”

He stared at her wide eyed, lips quivering. “H… How can you be so cruel?”

“It’s simple, I love my son,” she shoved the rag back into his mouth and turned away. She’d gotten what she wanted and wasted no more time on him.

She found Hera looking pleased and Andris looking concerned.

“Aunt Lilith, if we’re going to massacre these people can I join the fun?” Hera asked.

“Of course, Hera. But do wait until the defenders have been overwhelmed. Then you are welcome to enjoy yourself.”

“Thank you!” She hurried away to get as close of the fighting as possible.

Andris remained where he was.

“You don’t want to go as well?”

Andris bowed his head. “If that is your command, I will of course obey it.”

“It’s an invitation, not a command. You are welcome to stay if you wish. I just thought you might want to fight by your daughter’s side.”

“I know how strong she is, I’m sure she’ll be fine. She has her own creations to protect her.”

Lilith nodded. In the distance she could see the undead climbing over the rubble that had once been the city gate. The enemy had a solid line of shields blocking them. From above arrows and throwing spears rained down. There were no Dark Mages present and so no barrier spells. The projectiles weren’t especially effective, but they did bring a couple handfuls down. The soldiers were holding their ground and fighting well, smashing the skeletons, and walking corpses as they came.

Lilith knew it wouldn’t last.

The arrows and throwing spears would run out, the soldiers would begin to tire, the number of undead would start to mount. No matter how hard the enemy fought this battle could only have one outcome. It amused her to note that the fools were still waving their peace banners about. Mundanes really could be stupid.

“Is it really necessary to kill them all?” Andris asked, his tone cautions. “It seems like a terrible waste. Cities are great prizes.”

“And so much more fun to rule than some tiny village?”

“I am not thinking about myself, only about what is best for our House. Isn’t it better to have a functioning city that can raise tribute and manufacture goods rather than an empty ruin?”

“In general, yes. But this city I want to turn into a tomb. That is worth more to me than all the gold in my vault and mines.”

He was silent for a moment. “Love is a terrible thing, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” she agreed. “It certainly is.”

Chapter 18

The Alterothan Method Of Incorporating New Lands And People

“Do you think she’s gone mad?” Baldwin asked.

“Who?” Zuriel was wiping down his enchanted bastard sword. It was sticky with blood from point to hilt.

“Lilith, who else?”

“What makes you say that?”

“What she did in Stratford, obviously. She won the bidding and made it her first choice just to lay waste to the place. I mean it took three days just for her and her clan to reanimate all the corpses. Instead of a functioning city she made it an empty ruin. What is the point to that?”

“Didn’t Darius do the same thing with the capital of Dregal?”

“That’s completely different.”

“How? One dead city’s same as another if you ask me.”

“He wanted to take King Doran alive to make an example of him. But the coward had already run away with his pet White Mage. So, Darius decided to massacre the city instead.”

“How’s that better?” Zuriel asked with a twitch of his snout.

“You know how important our reputation is. Destroying an entire city because its king joined the Alliance will make rulers from one end of the Shattered Lands to the other think twice before doing the same.”

“Isn’t that the same thing Lilith did?”

“No,” Baldwin dismissed the idea with a flick of his wrist. “She didn’t make any public announcements. She didn’t send out any warnings or declarations. She just did it and no one knows why.”

“I heard it’s all cause someone tried to stab her kid when he was passing through on his First Quest.”

“She killed thousands just because someone attacked Waldo Corpselover?” Baldwin shook his head. “Then she really is insane.”

“Does it matter?”

“Not really, at least not to me. Sane or mad, so long as our Houses can cooperate that is enough. It may be a bit different within her own House though. The branches start to get nervous if the Head of the family becomes unstable. Just look at what happened to Poisondagger.”

Zuriel laughed. “You really think anyone in that family has the guts to try and take her down?”

Baldwin shrugged. “There are always a few.”

XXX

The Blooddrinker army was camped outside the city of Middleton. This was where King Leo and his army had decided to make their stand. The king had personally led his knights in a magnificent charge. It had been an ideal scene of chivalric courage and honor. Two hundred knights, resplendent in their plate armor, riding a line in perfect order. Their lances lowered and the hooves of their mounts making the ground tremble. It was a sight to stir the blood and set a man’s heart racing.

Right up until they started being blown to pieces. Then the arrows rained down. Then the goblin and orc regiments went forward. The slaughter was complete. A few injured riders were taken alive, the rest were killed. With their king and leading nobles butchered, the foot soldiers had shut the gates and barricaded themselves behind the walls. That made things a bit more tedious. The gate was blasted to rubble and the regiments stormed in under cover of archers and magical fire. The fighting was fierce but short, within perhaps half an hour peace banners were being waved. Baldwin was courteous enough to call a halt to the fighting and grant parlay. By that point, the defenders had lost roughly three thousand knights and soldiers. His army had taken all of forty-two losses, all from among the goblin and orc ranks.

His terms were simple, unconditional surrender. All those who’d fought were to surrender their weapons and become prisoners. Any with noble blood, priests, servants of any religion, and magic users were also to be handed over. Having no other choice, the city yielded and laid down arms. Enemy soldiers were rounded up, stripped of all weapons and armor, and herded into temporary pens outside the city. Next were the various clergies and noble families. There were many women and children among them. These were put into separate enclosures. Baldwin had two dozen stone pillars created in the middle of the field with earth magic. He then dispatched some of his foot soldiers to go into the nearby forest and begin chopping firewood.

Baldwin granted all his family members and Zuriel permission to loot the city for one day. As everything in Middleton now belonged to him this was an act of pure generosity on his part. It was a good way to reward the branch families and let them enjoy themselves after a long march. Zuriel was especially eager to find some wine and brothels. Hopefully not too many locals would be killed, but it was a small price for keeping the extended family happy. As a bonus, some children with the ability to use magic might be born in nine months’ time.

No regular soldiers were permitted to enter the city. Except those accompanying Dark Mages as guards. No matter what Zuriel and his family did to Middleton, it would be nothing compared to what would happen if he allowed sixty thousand monster troops to rampage for a night. Baldwin doubted there’d be very much left. This was not mercy; it was simple pragmatism. Unlike Lilith, he was quite sane. He did what was necessary and no more. Baldwin Blooddrinker was a civilized man after all.

XXX

The following morning Baldwin was enjoying a hearty breakfast. His familiar was standing ten feet away, slightly hunched over and refusing to even look at the food. As Zuriel was a half dragon covered in silver scales and with a lizard like snout for a face, he did not look pale or sickly. Thanks to the Bond though, Baldwin knew he was suffering through yet another hangover.

“I need some wine,” Zuriel muttered.

“I’d say you’ve had more than enough,” Baldwin replied. “I heard what happened with Silo.”

“Whatever it was I didn’t do it.”

“He told me he found you in a wine cellar and that you wouldn’t let him have a single bottle.”

“That’s right! There’s hardly any decent wine in that stupid place, it has nothing but ale. And most of that is cheap and muddy looking too. I was lucky to find one wine cellar at some merchant’s house. I wasn’t going to share.”

“Did you need to threaten him and rip the head off one of his guards?”

“I don’t like sharing,” Zuriel whined. “I didn’t touch him, so what’s the problem?”

Baldwin sighed. “I may spoil you, but you are still only a familiar. Even if you are the strongest in Alteroth you are far beneath a Dark Mage, never mind the head of a branch family. Silo was demanding I have you executed.”

“Go right ahead, that’ll stop the throbbing at least.”

“I had to give him a hundred gold skulls and promise to make his son Aruso a governor somewhere.”

“You could have just told him to shut his mouth. Not like he could do anything.”

“Unlike you I don’t make enemies when I don’t need to. It is a lesson you would do well to learn.”

“No thanks, killing anybody who annoys me works good.” Zuriel rubbed the top of his head. “Do you think I could have just one-”

“No wine!”

Zuriel kept rubbing his head and mumbled something beneath his breath. Baldwin thought he heard the words ‘ass’ and ‘prick’ among the mumblings.

XXX

Baldwin had brought along a high-backed chair. It was not a throne. The Great Houses of Alteroth were not royalty and did not use thrones. But if mundanes from this land saw him in this chair and mistook it for a throne, he would certainly not mind. Today’s events were all about setting future expectations. The sooner these people understood their new reality, the better it would be for everyone. Blooddrinker and the other Great Houses had learned long ago that instilling fear and a sense of despair was the key to a successful administration.

A basic fact every Dark Mage understood was that hope was the root cause of almost every problem a governor or overseer might face. It was a weed. A noxious and poisonous weed that always spread quickly and contaminated everything it touched. It led otherwise sensible mundanes to do stupid and delusional things out of some ridiculous belief it might somehow improve their lives.  Sadly, the only solution for an outbreak of hope was to burn everything thus infected to ash. Needless to say, this was always a terrible waste. Both for those infected and for their owners who would suffer the pointless loss of valuable assets. Therefore, it was policy to prevent outbreaks of hope whenever possible. Making clear examples for public consumption was an excellent method for achieving this.

All the people in Middleton had been ordered to the field outside their city. Blooddrinker soldiers went down every street banging on doors and demanding everyone inside come. No exceptions were permitted. The entire city population was required to attend and bear witness. The thousands of them stood there in nervous silence.

“Well, let us begin,” Baldwin ordered. “We may as well start with the common soldiers; they will take the longest.”

All the Blooddrinker Dark Mages were assembled in a semi-circle about Baldwin. A still hunched over Zuriel was standing to his immediate right. Baldwin noted that Silo was glaring at Zuriel, but his familiar didn’t seem to notice.

Before long, the first group of prisoners were dragged out from the holding pens. A pair of goblins gripping each. Wooden chopping blocks were set up with orc executioners standing at the ready, longswords in hand. The guards would force the men down to their knees and press their faces to the blocks. The swords came down and separated heads from necks. The guards would toss the bodies onto a pile while the heads were neatly stacked up. They would be displayed later on pikes in the marketplace and other busy locations. They’d serve as a constant reminder of what happened to those who tried to fight Dark Mages. When the prisoners saw what was happening, they began screaming and begging en masse. Some tried to attack the guards but were easily cut down. Their cries and wails wouldn’t do them any good, but it would add to the overall atmosphere.

“Why’d they give up anyway?” Zuriel asked. “They should have either run and hid or died fighting. Better than being slaughtered like sheep.”

“It’s ignorance,” Baldwin replied. “Sheer ignorance. They don’t understand how we do things. You could say that all this is our way of educating them.”

Baldwin turned to observe Middleton, the city itself. Except for the area around the gate the walls were still intact. Beyond the neighborhood by the gate and a bit of harmless arson from last night, the entire city was pretty much intact.

“These little object lessons are even more important than they would usually be,” Baldwin continued. “Under normal circumstances I’d have the full army occupy these lands for at least a month. I’d send a company to every last town, village, and community to let the people know they’ve been conquered. Rumors are wonderful of course, but nothing brings home the lesson quite like seeing armed soldiers standing right there in front of you. Plus, we would burn down every lord’s mansion, every church, every temple, and rip down the walls of every town and city.”

In Alteroth the only city with an outer wall was Alter. It was proof that the Dark Mages didn’t rely on walls to keep their towns and cities safe. It was also a reminder to the residents that if they rebelled nothing stood between them and proper retribution.

“We not going to do that?” Zuriel asked.

“There’s no time. We must march out this afternoon. It is already past the campaigning season and fighting in the middle of winter will not be easy. But we must reach Torikai before the spring. Plus, I can only spare Marcus two hundred men for his garrison. He can call for more troops from home if he needs them, but it will be better if he does not.”

“Just two hundred?” Zuriel asked in surprise. “That’d be plenty if this were a city back home, but the locals aren’t broken in yet. Some of them might still be stupid.”

Baldwin gave an unhappy nod. “Under normal circumstances I would leave behind a garrison of two thousand, and perhaps another Dark Mage or two. But I need soldiers for my new lands in Wylef and Dregal as well. Never mind who knows how many territories I will claim on the road to Torikai. I cannot afford to leave too many behind or else I will lack much of a force when we fight the White Army. Truthfully, leaving Dark Mages behind as governors or overseers worries me more.”

“Then don’t do it.”

Baldwin grinned and turned to one of the Dark Mages nearby. “Silo, I’d like to wait to appoint Aruso governor until after this war is over. You do not object, do you?”

“Absolutely not! A promise is a promise! You can’t make someone a governor and then not let them start putting their lands in order. Besides, you might change your mind later. He needs to hold his lands to make his position sure.”

The others all nodded.

“Besides,” Silo added. “If there is trouble, you’ll need magic to put it down with so few troops. Who knows what might happen to our supply lines if there aren’t any Dark Mages there to keep an eye on things.”

Once more heads nodded.

“It is a fair point,” Baldwin said. “We need as many mages and soldiers as possible to defeat the White Army. But we also need them to keep our lines back home open.”

Zuriel shrugged. “I hope you have enough then.”

Baldwin raised a manicured eyebrow. “This matter is rather important you know.”

“Sure, I guess. But either you have enough, or you don’t. Doesn’t change anything for me either way.”

“It must be wonderful to live a life where your greatest worry is finding enough wine to get drunk.”

“Not today it’s not,” Zuriel started to rub the top of his head.

“Since we’re talking about the need for more mages, bring the one we captured out here.”

XXX

A plain looking human in faded brown robes was brought before Baldwin with his hands bound. The man was staring wide eyed at Baldwin and the other Dark Mages, he looked even more fearful gazing at Zuriel.

“What is your name?” Baldwin asked.

The man dry swallowed and answered in a voice little more than a whisper. “Roger, Roger of Bittford.”

“Well, Roger of Bittford, you are an incredibly lucky human. I am Baldwin Blooddrinker, Head of House Blooddrinker, and I am happy to inform you are being adopted into my clan.”

“A… Adopted?” Roger stood there with a slack jaw.

Baldwin nodded. “That is correct, congratulations nephew. Normally, fighting against me and my House would mean death.” He waved a hand in the general direction where prisoners were being executed and their corpses piled up. “However, the ability to use mana is precious. Those who can do so are a valuable resource and should not be wasted. We will find you a female mate and you can breed with her. Please produce as many offspring as possible.”

“Breed?” Roger sounded dumbfounded, but perhaps just a tad excited.

“Marcus,” Baldwin looked at one of the mages. “Since he is a local, I will have you be the one to adopt him. He can remain here and assist you while you teach him what it means to be a Dark Mage and a Blooddrinker.”

The new governor bowed his head. “As you wish, cousin.”

“Now, we just need you to swear the oath,” Baldwin pointed to the ground.

The guards who’d brought Roger grabbed his shoulders and shoved him down onto both knees as he let out a startled, ‘oof.’ One of the orcs leaned over and growled in his ear. “Say these words…”

Roger sucked in a breath, then repeated the words. “I swear by the Dark Powers to serve and obey Baldwin Blooddrinker for all my days. I acknowledge him the Head of House Blooddrinker. I acknowledge his command as absolute and his word as final. I shall follow where he leads. I shall answer when he calls. I shall serve him faithfully unto death. All this I swear by the Dark Powers.”

When the oath was completed Baldwin motioned with his hand. The orcs hauled Roger back up to his feet. One took out a dagger and cut his bonds, freeing his hands. As Roger nervously massaged his wrists, Baldwin spoke.

“The oath isn’t sealed with magic, so it is not absolute of course. Forming an Oath with every single member of my family would be a bit much. Plus, I would be required to offer something in return. Still, you will want to keep that oath. The Dark Powers take promises sworn in their names very seriously. Never mind what I will do to you if you betray me or my House.”

“I… I understand!” Roger bowed low. “I will be completely loyal to you. You can trust me.”

Baldwin laughed. “Marcus?”

“Yes, cousin?”

“The very first thing I want you to teach your new son is our saying about trust.”

“I will make him memorize it.”

“Good, now get him some black robes and a proper bone wand.” Baldwin made some shewing motions and Roger was led away.

XXX

The crowd had stood there watching the soldiers being led out and killed. They’d some from all over the kingdom, but many had been locals. Fathers, sons, brothers, and dear friends were all beheaded right before them. There were many anguished cries coming from the throng, but none of them were stupid enough to anything more than that.

Where they were assembled was right in front of the stone pillars that were half buried with firewood. As soon as Roger was led away it was time to move onto the next act. Nobles and their families, including babies and small children, were tied together as a group, and bound to a pillar. Priests and priestesses, still dressed in their religious garments, acolytes, and lay attendants were bound. As all this was going on the execution of the common soldiers continued unabated. The sight added a wonderful background for those witnessing it. Many of the prisoners cried and begged the crowd to rescue them as they were being led to the pillars. Some of the children were asking their parents what was happening. Priests prayed, asked their gods for protection, or called down curses. All this happened as the crowd looked on.

As this was happening Baldwin had the highest-ranking survivor brought before him. It was a small courtesy, but Baldwin believed in manners. He was an older human with gray hair, but a strong, muscled body. During the battle, his horse had been killed and he’d been pinned beneath. Both his legs were broken. The guards had to carry him to the audience. Despite his situation the man held his head high with no sign of fear.

“Duke Theo Griffinheart of Norwich,” Baldwin said in a cordial voice. “If you wish to beg for your life, I will permit it.”

That brought a grim laugh from the duke. “What’s the point? I wouldn’t expect mercy from the likes of you.”

“I can be generous. If your begging pleases me, I may have your throat cut. That is a far better end than burning, do you not agree?”

“Death is death,” Griffinheart said. “Do whatever you want with me, you won’t hear me beg.”

“Very well, I suppose I will have to settle for your screams,” Baldwin waved him away and the guards carried him to the pillars.

Baldwin stood up from his chair and waved to one of his mages. The half elf took out a wand and cast a spell. A twenty-foot-tall replica of Baldwin suddenly appeared to be overlooking the crowd. When he spoke, his voice boomed out and could be clearly heard by everyone present.

“My name is Baldwin Blooddrinker. All of you belong to me and to my House now. Your homes, your possessions, and your bodies are all my property. Your souls I offer up to the Dark Powers. Forget all that you have known up until this moment. I, and those I appoint over you, are the only authorities that matter. The Dark Powers are the only gods. My word is the only law. All those who might claim any sort of loyalty from you, or who might tempt you to worship any other gods will be purged from this land. Now.” His gigantic illusion gave a nod.

A handful of goblins and orcs touched torches to the edges of the wood piles. The wood caught, and the flames began to spread. Slowly. One fire spell from a Dark Mage could have turned the whole site into a conflagration. A bit of oil would have made the fire spread in the blink of an eye. But letting the flames move at their own pace drew things out and made for a much better object lesson.

High pitched screams and wordless cries began. Inhuman howls started as people nearest the edges caught and began burning. The pleas to the gods became more fervent, as did the curses. The gods weren’t listening though, or if they were the Dark Power prevented them from acting. The crowd stood there and watched. Many of them were crying, but none of them tried to intervene.

“They should have run away too,” Zuriel said. He wasn’t being sympathetic. He was just pointing an obvious truth.

Some did, Baldwin thought. The smart ones. Luckily, the stupid and the stubborn always stay behind.

Baldwin waited several minutes until the entire scene was a glorious inferno.

“I appoint Marcus Blooddrinker as governor of Middleton. Obey him as you would obey me, for he speaks with my voice. You will be told what the new laws are, follow them without question and without complaint. Be obedient, be compliant, and work hard. If you do then you may live long lives and have children who live after you. If you do not,” the massive illusion pointed to the bonfire.

When the illusion vanished, many wanted to leave and return home, but the soldiers wouldn’t allow it. They would have to remain until the fires were out. They stood in that field for a long while.

Chapter 19

The Best Medicine

The three of them made it back to the royal messenger. When Gronk handed him a heavy burlap sack that was leaking blood the man just stood there with mouth agape.

“Regretfully, we were unable to save your princess. Seeing all hope was lost, Ahab murdered her before we could arrive,” Waldo glanced at his two companions. “Isn’t that right?”

They both nodded.

“I’m sure she was a wonderful person, I wish I could have met her,” Alice dabbed at a dry eye.

“Yeah,” Gronk said. “It ruined my appetite for a whole half hour.”

“But,” Waldo continued. “We killed Ahab and avenged her. So, while we did not achieve all our goals the quest was mostly successful. As even more good news we found plenty of booty. So, you may tell your king that I do not require or expect a reward from him.”

“…”

“You and your king are welcome.”

XXX

They escorted the royal messenger most of the way back before going their separate ways. Waldo didn’t rush his return to Lunatown. With everything they’d acquired in Ahab’s keep their finances were set. Luna was not going anywhere, and her situation was unlikely to suddenly change. So, Waldo took the time to explore the local forests and hill country in search of magical ingredients. They were further south than Alter, which explained why even in winter the weather remained pleasant and the land green. Searching he soon discovered that there was an incredible variety of plants and fauna. Waldo acquired devil grass, ginger, mandrake, lotus blossoms, faery wings, newt eyes, jasmine, slime extract, yellow moss, and sweet root. He spotted some purple and green werbils, but they managed to get away. Waldo also came across some wolfsbane mushrooms.

As soon as he found them Alice had been upset for some reason.

“Darling, you’re not planning on using those things again are you?”

“Well not right now, the summer solstice isn’t for months yet.”

Alice did not seem pleased by that answer.

Their time searching was well worth it. Waldo acquired many ingredients that would have stocked the shelves of the herbal shops back in Alter. Sadly, he didn’t acquire any truly rare supplies such as unicorn horn or samalander scales. But then he still had most of a dragon’s claw left, and that was rarer and more valuable than any other component he was likely to acquire. When they made camp one evening, he spread out all these potential ingredients on a blanket and sat down. It was a very considerable inventory that included all the basics. There were dozens of potions he could brew with these ingredients, and with a bit of the dragon’s claw he could make each one far more potent than it would normally be.

Looking all of them over though, Waldo didn’t smile. He needed a painkiller. One strong enough to work on a dragon. The problem was potency. He’d witnessed Luna drinking pitchers full of dwarven whiskey. Those were amounts that might kill an ogre, never mind a human. Even the strongest recipe he could come up with, even if it had shavings of dragon’s claw in it, wouldn’t do. Waldo calculated Luna would need to drink several just to match the impact of the whiskey.

That simply wasn’t good enough. He needed to provide Luna a potion that was more effective than what she already used. Otherwise, she wouldn’t view it as truly valuable. Obviously, anything that could do that to a dragon would be instantly fatal to any human. ALL the potion recipes he knew were calculated to treat humans or demi humans. The entire scale of treatment had to be thrown out. To have any hope of succeeding he had to invent a brand-new recipe that was unlike anything else he’d ever studied.

Well, he thought, I did invent permanent love potion. A genius like me should be able to find a solution.

Alice came up to him. “The possum’s almost done, darling. Dinner will be ready in a bit.”

“Oh,” he said coming out of his thoughts. “That’s good.”

She gave his shoulder a pat. “You don’t need to be so glum. I am sure you’ll figure this out.”

“Yes. The problem is there’s no obvious answer. Some of these plants can relieve pain, but their effects just aren’t potent enough. I have to create a potion that is stronger than three or four pitchers of dwarven whiskey.”

Alice made a face. “That might be hard.”

Waldo let out a depressed sigh. If I could find enough dogsbreath and grind it up with mandrake and sweet root maybe-

“Hey master,” Gronk strolled back into camp holding a small sack. It was twitching and squirming. “I found the mice you wanted.”

Waldo gave an absent-minded nod. “Go ahead and feed them to the lastbreaths.”

“Sure thing, master. I tried one, they’re nice and tasty.” Gronk lifted the lid off a straw basket and dumped the mice in. There was a cacophony of hisses and high-pitched squeals.

“Why do we have those things?” Alice demanded. “They’re dangerous.”

“They wouldn’t be worth having if they weren’t,” Waldo said.

“But why do you want them?”

“A lastbreath’s venom is one of the deadliest poisons there is. About the only thing more lethal is a basilisk’s. It would be silly to throw away something so precious.”

“Darling,” Alice hesitated. “Do you plan on poisoning people?”

“Not at the moment, but it’s good to be prepared.”

Alice blanched and he could feel worry through the Bond. Waldo was sure it was because of her silly morals yet again. He’d given up trying to understand the ridiculous list of rules she followed. Why did she believe it was fine to murder a princess they’d gone through the trouble of rescuing, but somehow wrong for him to stock up on lethal venom for a rainy day? Why did her morals always have to be so inconvenient?

“Poisons can also be used as medicine,” Waldo said. It would probably spare him future aggravation if he got her to see the venom had many benefits.

“That’s ridiculous, poison is poison.”

“Well, it depends on how exactly you use it and in what quantity. Foxglove can help someone with a weak or failing heart. Arsenic can treat problems with the intestines. Hemlock can clear up stuffed lungs. And all sorts of snake and spider venoms can be used to relieve pain. The trick is to apply miniscule quantities in a very particular manner so as to receive the benefit without the harm. Too large or too strong a dose would be dangerous and defeat the entire purpose.”

“If it’s dangerous then don’t use it.”

Waldo shook his head. “Sometimes poison is the best medicine. Certain plants and venoms will give you results nothing else will.”

“Didn’t you just tell me those snakes are super deadly? Would you really use their poison to try and help someone?”

“Well,” Waldo paused. “I’ll admit that it would probably be too dangerous for a human. But it might be safe for a non-human with a stronger constitution. Like an ogre or a… oh!” Waldo jumped to his feet. “Oh!”

“What is it, darling?”

Waldo hurried to his pack and began ransacking it until he found a couple glass vials with stoppers. “Gronk!”

“Yeah, master?”

“Take one of the snakes out and milk it for me!”

“Milk it?”

“That’s right.”

“Ah, how do I do that master? They don’t have nipples.”

Waldo let out and aggravated sigh and explained the proper method of milking a snake of its venom.

XXX

A couple days later they at last returned to Lunatown. They arrived in the early morning just as the horrible ball of fire was rising. They found Luna asleep on her usual patch of grass beside the pig pit. Since there was that saying about not waking a sleeping dragon they sat there and waited.

Eventually Luna stirred and sat up stretching with a languid yawn. It took a while for her eyes to fully open and for her to notice them.

“Oh, you’re back, mage. You were gone for a couple days.”

“We’ve been away for over two weeks,” Waldo said.

“Two days, two weeks, what’s the difference?”

Waldo marched up to her as Gronk and Alice both kept their distance. He held out a corked vial to her. The liquid inside was a burnt brown.

“Drink this.”

Luna reached out and took the vial from him. She eyed it without any particular enthusiasm.

“What is it?”

“The greatest pain reliever ever made. Drink that and all your pain should vanish.”

“I’ve heard that before. But still…”

She yanked out the cork and quaffed it down her throat.

Chapter 20

The Oath

As soon as it was down her throat, she tossed the vial away and smacked her lips.

“It’s a little spicier than the last one, I think I prefer…” Luna paused. Her eyes widened and there was a look of astonishment. “It… it doesn’t hurt! It doesn’t hurt!” She jumped about, stretching her arms, and twisting from side to side. “It’s been so long I’d almost forgotten!” She was pumping her fists into the air and doing leg kicks and wildly gyrating her hips.

To Waldo it looked as if she were possessed or having a severe reaction to some spoiled roki fruit. He, Alice, and Gronk stood there and watched this bizarre display of unbridled enthusiasm mixed with unexpected flexibility. Luna neither noticed nor cared, continuing to jump and scamper about, all the while laughing.

After a few minutes of this she finally stopped and sent Waldo a big enthusiastic smile. “Thank you, mage! I didn’t think it was possible, but you’ve gotten rid of my pain. It’s amazing!”

“My name,” he replied softly. “Is Waldo. Where I am from it is considered a sign of respect to refer to someone by their name and not as ‘mage.’” He thought asking for her to include a Master in that would be pushing his luck.

Luna laughed. “All right, why not? You’ve earned it, Waldo. You have my deepest thanks for curing my pain.”

“I haven’t cured it, only suppressed it. The potion I gave you will last a day, at most, then your pain will return.”

He watched the smile melt away and saw genuine fear.

“I have made enough for twelve more doses.”

“And what happens after those are gone?”

“Well,” Waldo said slowly, deliberately, “I could make more.”

Luna’s jaw set and her expression darkened. All the laughter from a moment ago vanished.

“You will make more for me, Waldo. If you don’t, I’ll-”

“You’ll kill me?” Waldo had deliberately interrupted her. She scowled at him and a stream of black smoke was pouring from her nose. He could feel Alice’s and Gronk’s terror ramp up. He was scared too. He’d seen what she could do, and unlike before with the knight her anger was being directed at him now. Waldo swallowed and held onto this courage. This was his only path home.

“You can, but then you have the same problem as with Quartz. I am a master potion maker and what I gave you is a recipe of my own creation. I am literally the only person in the world who can make it.”

“It doesn’t have to be you,” her eyes went past him to focus on Gronk and Alice.

There was a loud thud as the ground shook, Gronk had fainted. He could see Alice trembling.

“If you hurt my companions, I’ll leave this place and never come back. I have teleportation magic; I can go to the other side of the world in a blink.” That was a flat out lie, but Luna didn’t know that.

Her eyes stabbed into his. “What do you want?”

“Something more precious than silver or gold.”

“My blood,” she growled.

“No,” as soon as he said it, she looked surprised. “I want you to be my familiar.”

Her jaw slipped open and her pink eyes went wide. Then in a flash, she grabbed his throat and forced him to his knees. Her hand started crushing him like a vice.

“You want me to be your PET?!”

He couldn’t breathe. All he could see was the hatred in her face and he could sense the dragon’s rage drowning him. He was going to die. She was going to kill him.

Luna smashed him face first into the ground. It hurt, but at least she’d let go of his throat. He choked and sucked in as much air as he could. He sprawled out at her feet and turned his face up to see she was glaring down at him. Both her hands were curled tight into fists and were shaking. The one with only three fingers was shaking even harder than the other.

“I SHOULD KILL YOU!”

Waldo did not make a sound other than gasps of breath. From the side he noted that Alice was also on the ground having fainted as well. Just being this close to a dragon’s rage had been too much. He supposed the only reason he was still conscious was due to being human and having duller senses. He was still trembling though.

She kept glaring down at him, growling like an angry dog at the end of a leash. She could end him in an instant. Slowly, very slowly, the fury died down, she took deep breaths. The sense of dragon anger began to subside, but she continued to look murderous. Waldo decided to stay right where he was and remain silent. After a stretch of time that felt like hours but was probably only a couple of minutes she spoke. Her voice was thick with barely restrained rage.

“Listen to me human and listen good. Nothing would ever make me agree to be your slave. If you want to live ask for something else and never mention this again.”

“Nothing?” Waldo asked while remaining on his belly. “What if I could heal your wings?”

“You got a potion for that too?”

“I have a Talent in Healing, a strong one. I am most certainly one of the best in the world.” It felt very strange to admit that out loud. Since he was a child it had always embarrassed him. Now though it was his only hope. “I can even regenerate limbs and organs. I can restore your wings.”

“Human magic doesn’t work on dragons!”

“If that were true no dragon would have ever been killed by a human army,” Luna glared at him but did not call him a liar. “It does work, just not very well. Dragons have a high resistance to magical spells, but not an immunity. If you’ll allow me to work on you as much as I like I am sure I can heal you completely.”

“Maybe if you could live a thousand years there might be a chance,” she sneered. “Too bad you’re only human.”

“If I could heal you enough for you to fly again, would you be my familiar?”

“It’s impossible!”

“Then what do you have to lose?” Waldo spoke quickly. “Let’s make a bargain.”

She looked suspicious but motioned for him to continue.

“We could swear an Oath. You swear to allow me to use my healing magic on you whenever I wish. To become my familiar, to do me no harm, to speak to me no untruth, and to obey my every command if I heal you well enough for you to fly again. In exchange, I swear to never abandon you and provide you as much medicine as you require for the rest of my life or until you are able to once again fly.”

Luna continued to stare down at him as she considered his offer. The dragon fury was beginning to lighten. “You’ll give me all the medicine I need to never feel pain again so long as you live?”

“That’s right.”

She gave him a cruel smile. “Maybe I will give you some of my blood after all. I’ll force it down your throat and make you live forever just to brew medicine for me. How does that sound, human?”

“I’d have no objection to that.”

“And the only thing I have to give up in exchange is to let you annoy me and waste my time while you try and make water run uphill?”

“Well, until I succeed in healing you.”

“It’s impossible, you’d have a better chance forcing the sun to rise in the east.”

“Then you don’t have anything to lose. Agree and you will never have to suffer that pain again. At least not for as long as I live.”

She grunted. “I really will give you my blood in that case.”

“Most men would kill their own families for that.”

Luna still looked unhappy, but the remnant of anger faded away. Waldo cautiously got up to his feet. He rubbed at his neck; he would heal it later. Luna was eying him with suspicion.

“I suppose that’s just how you humans are, especially you mages. You always believe you can do more than you can. In a way, you’re even more arrogant than an ancient dragon.”

“Thank you.”

She huffed. “You also don’t know when you’re being insulted. I’m sure you wasting my time trying to heal me will be annoying. Same way I’m sure it’ll still be a thousand times better than waking up in agony every single day. All right then, Waldo.” She stuck out her hand. “I’ll swear an Oath with you.”

He reached out and took her small, mangled hand in his. He gasped as she squeezed tight, but she at least didn’t crush it. Waldo let his mana flow freely through his palm and it mixed together with hers. As he spoke the language of magic, Luna heard his words in the dragon tongue.

“I swear to remain in your service and provide you as much medicine as you require to never feel pain again for so long as I live or until I have healed your wings well enough to allow you to fly. This is my oath.”

“I swear,” Luna spoke in the language of magic, but Waldo heard the common human tongue. “To permit you to use healing magic on me at any time you wish. To become your familiar, to do you no harm, to speak to you no untruth, and to obey your commands should you heal me and allow me to fly again. This is my oath.”

They both leaned forward and touched lips. Waldo felt a flash of intense heat as if he were baking in an oven and felt the strength leave his body. His knees gave out and he landed right back in the dirt. Luna stood there unaffected. She had a smug smile.

“You’re an idiot. I’d have given you anything you asked for. It would have been worth it. Now, instead, you belong to me for the rest of your days and beyond. You’ve made yourself my slave and gotten nothing for it!”

Magical Oaths were as binding as Contracts or Death Seals. Unlike Contracts they could only be made voluntarily, but once made both parties would be compelled to honor the terms. An Oath could only be dissolved if both sides agreed to it, or through death. From his spot on the ground Waldo smiled back up at her.

“I guess we’ll see.”

Chapter 21

Like Water In A Desert

Four years ago, in Castle Corpselover

Waldo was in one of the cells in the second sublevel. A slave whose name he didn’t know was strapped down to a table. The head torturer had just cut out the man’s liver, and Waldo was trying to regenerate it while keeping the slave from dying from blood loss. His hands were covered in blood and the man’s screams and thrashing were distracting. Waldo could have given him some spiderroot that would have left him dead to the world for hours. It would have made things more pleasant for both of them. But mother had refused to allow it.

“Do you imagine you’ll have time to give them spiderroot and let it take hold if you ever truly need to replace someone’s liver?” She had asked him.

Her training was always like this. She made things as difficult for him as possible. And she did not accept excuses, you either succeeded or failed. Mother didn’t want to hear how hard things were. Waldo understood that this was how all his brothers and sisters had been taught. It didn’t mean he didn’t want the slave to stop screaming and trying to tear off the shackles. It was distracting!

He was used to blood and screams. He still didn’t enjoy seeing others suffer, but he had learned to accept it. Mother promised that at some point he would definitely take pleasure in it. It was only natural. Waldo couldn’t wait for that to happen; it would make training so much easier. It would make everyday life easier too.

Waldo focused on his task. He closed off arteries and veins to slow down the blood loss. He forced the slave’s body to create more blood to replace what was lost. If he could have used a sleep or paralyzing spell he would have, but of course he couldn’t. Common spells, healing, and defensive magic were the only ones he could work. He could regrow a liver, but he couldn’t put anyone to sleep or force them to be still. Well, even with all the thrashing the new liver began to form. Regrowing organs was considered a deep magic within the Healing School, in all Alteroth he was the only one who could do it. The thought did not make him happy.

It took about half an hour to finish. When he was done not only was there a new healthy liver inside the man’s abdomen, the opening had been healed as well without even leaving a scar behind. Waldo used a diagnostic spell to make sure the slave was completely healed and in good health. Waldo called over a different slave with a basin and pitcher of water. Waldo wiped his hands clean. He didn’t give a thought to cleaning up the slave he’d just practiced on. What would be the point?

As he cleaned up Waldo thought about his circumstances. He was still wearing the apprentice robes at thirteen. They were the same shade of black as the ones his mother wore and cut the same way with multiple hidden pockets. But whereas hers went down to the ankles his stopped at the knees and had no hood. One look and anyone could immediately tell he was still only an apprentice. Gwendolyn and Walter had both been allowed to wear the standard robes by the time they were thirteen. Of course, getting to wear the regular robes did not officially make you a Dark Mage, at least not if you were a member of the head family of a Great House. That only happened after you completed your First Quest.

What it did mean was that within the immediate family at least you would be treated as a full mage. This meant you would have greater personal freedom and mother would no longer directly supervise your education. You would be free to study, or not study, what you saw fit. The only drawback was that it also meant you were no longer under mother’s direct protection. If an ‘accident’ happened mother would not treat it as an attack on her. Walter had made a point of telling him that his wolves liked the way he smelled. Waldo knew his life would be more dangerous, but he still wanted to wear the regular robes and be seen as an adult.

Mother arrived shortly after he finished cleaning up. The slave on the table began to whimper and beg. She ignored him and cast a diagnostic spell. As soon as she confirmed he was in perfect health she turned to her son. She did not smile, she rarely smiled at him, but she did give a satisfied nod.

“You did very well, Waldo. I daresay you are probably already as skilled in healing as any White Mage in Avalon.”

He flinched. “Sorry.”

His mother raised an eyebrow. “That is not an insult, son. Quite the opposite.”

“Mother,” he couldn’t help but whine. “Do I really have to keep practicing white magic? Can’t I please work on something else, anything else?”

His mother planted her hands on her hips, always a bad sign. “Oh? Would you like to practice animating the dead again?”

Waldo once more flinched. He had no access to Necromancy, so he couldn’t even work any of the minor spells. He’d kept moaning about not studying it anyway, so his mother had locked him in a cell with a couple dead rats. She then placed the key to the cell door just out of reach and told him he could leave just as soon as he reanimated one of the rats and had it fetch the key for him. She kept him locked in that cell for three days with only bread and water.

“No, mother,” he answered quick.

“Waldo, I am not punishing you. If you had a Talent for Necromancy, I would have you spending all day working with skeletons and corpses. If you could summon, I would have you practice summoning every type of animal and monster. But, like it or not, your Talent is Healing. You need to be as capable with it as possible. No matter what others may think, healing is valuable, and you must work to be the best healer you possibly can be. Do you understand?”

“Yes, mother,” he tried but could not make himself sound enthusiastic.

His mother seemed fine with that. “Good, I want you to keep practicing.” She turned to the torturer. “Cut out both his kidneys this time.”

“Yes, mistress,” he pulled his long knife back out as the chained slave started screaming at the top of his lungs.

Waldo decided he would gag him. Having to practice healing magic was bad enough, no need for him to suffer more than he had to.

XXX

Present day

Waldo knew he was an outstanding healer. He didn’t take pride in that. How could he when healing was considered white magic? Back home the more he excelled at it the more people were convinced he wasn’t a real Dark Mage. If he could have exchanged his vast ability in Healing for just an average skill in Necromancy, he would have in a single heartbeat. But your Talents were decided at birth. And though he’d never asked for it, he had still worked hard to develop his abilities in healing and protective spells. He was unquestionably the finest healer to come from Alteroth, and quite possibly one of the best in the world. The only times he’d ever been happy about that were when he’d been able to heal Alice or Gronk after they were severely injured. But now, amazingly, his Talent would allow to complete a quest everyone had assumed was impossible.

As soon as Luna was able to fly, he would perform the binding ritual and make her his third familiar. That would be one condition of his First Quest complete. He and his companions would climb on her back and begin to fly westward towards Alter. Along the way they’d keep an eye out for any knights riding around in plate armor. The first one they spotted would be roasted and that would be a second condition met. Given the distance it would probably take at least a few weeks to reach Alter, but as soon as he arrived with his dragon that would mark the third and last condition. When he landed in his family’s courtyard on the back of a dragon with a succubus and ogre also in tow, not even Dante Poisondagger would be able to say he wasn’t a true Dark Mage! Mother would be proud of him and everyone would say he was a worthy Heir.

Just imagining this glorious return gave him goosebumps and an erect penis. He would need to ask Alice if she wanted to play slave master and innocent slave girl later. Everything he’d endured since setting out on his quest no longer mattered. He’d done the impossible. He’d won. Not even a dragon could break a magical Oath. And knowing the Contract might be only partially successful like with Alice and Gronk he’d made her swear to obey him and never harm him. So even if the binding ritual was imperfect Luna would still be bound by the Oath to behave like a normal familiar. This was better than he could have ever hoped for.

“The Dark Powers smile upon me.”

Alice frowned and drew a circle over her heart. “Darling? Don’t things usually go terribly wrong when you say things like that?”

He laughed. “Maybe once or twice but it doesn’t matter. Nothing can possibly go wrong now.”

“You never learn!” Alice drew another circle over her heart. “How can you not know by now that saying that is like daring the gods to punish you?”

“Relax, Alice. The power of an Oath is absolute. The only things that can break it are death and if both parties willingly dissolve it. That means it is absolutely certain that Luna will be my familiar.”

“If you say so,” Alice muttered and drew a third circle over her heart.

“I got to say master,” Gronk said. “Whenever you get too happy that’s when things usually go bad.”

Waldo waved that away. “That may have been true before, but now that I’ve done the impossible, I’m sure things will be fine.”

Alice and Gronk shared a look but didn’t say anything further.

It was the day after Waldo and Luna had sworn their Oath. Luna had agreed to let him begin healing her this morning. As Waldo and company approached, she was lying in the grass with her legs wide apart, one hand on her belly, and snoring loud enough to scare off wildlife. The pose was as vulgar and unladylike as one could imagine. As he neared her Alice and Gronk both held back. Given what had happened just yesterday they even more skittish around her than usual. Not wanting to be rude, Waldo coughed into his hand to wake her. After several more coughs and a couple kicks Luna finally stirred and opened one slitted, pink eye.

“You know, Waldo. Most people would regret kicking a sleeping dragon.”

“Most people don’t have an Oath with one.”

She sat up and scratched herself as she yawned. “My wounds are starting to hurt. Did you bring my medicine?”

“Of course,” from one of his pockets he pulled out a vial with brownish liquid.

“Did you bring any whiskey to wash it down with?” She licked her lips.

“The potion doesn’t require alcohol.” He handed the vial over to her.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Luna unstoppered the vial and poured it down her throat. She wiped her mouth and tossed the empty vial away. After a moment she let out a relieved sigh. “You have no idea how good it feels to just feel normal.”

Waldo recovered the vial and cork, they weren’t easy to come by, especially not in a place like this. “I need you to transform so I can begin the first session. I don’t want to waste time.”

She laughed and got to her feet. “Well, I can understand you valuing time since you humans get so little of it. But you don’t need to be in too big a rush, you’ll have as much as you need.”

Waldo shook his head. “As soon as you are healed, we are flying back to my homeland. I want to return as soon as possible. I expect that given your size and resistance to magic it may take several days or up to two weeks.”

Luna put her head back and laughed. “Humans are hilarious!” She began pulling off her clothes.

“What are you doing?” Alice gasped.

“What does it look like, succubus?” She yanked down her trousers and was naked. “No sense ruining these clothes. I’ll just have to get more.”

Alice blushed but Waldo paid it no mind. “Please transform now so we can begin.”

“Fine.”

Luna did as requested and her body expanded and took on her true shape. Waldo noted that all the wounds looked exactly as they had the first time. The potion was a pain reliever and nothing more, it had no restorative effects. The wound on the back was still bleeding. He couldn’t help but focus on it, this would take a lot of work and require multiple sessions.

Luna chuckled and twisted her long serpentine neck to look down at him. “Well, get on with it.”

Nodding Waldo placed both hands on her side. Healing magic required physical contact with the patient, but he didn’t have to actually touch the wound. He took a deep breath and gathered his mana. Despite his relative youth he might have more experience in restoring lost limbs than anyone else the world. How many hundreds of times had his mother forced him to practice regenerating an arm or leg? He knew the necessary spells by heart, he knew the steps to take, and how to regulate the body’s reactions. He’d never restored wings before, but the patient’s body knew all the secrets. All he had to do was force the body to replace what was lost. A dragon was different from a human, but the principle was the same. He knew this would be more difficult and time consuming than any other operation he’d ever performed, but he had no doubts at all that he could do it.

“Quicquid fracti sanetur. Quicquid ultra instaurari avelli. Et per voluntatem ejus, quod pecuniam amisit.” Healing magic did not require hand signs or a wand. The spoken words were enough. His hands glowed and he forced the mana within his body out through his palms and into Luna. Waldo shut his eyes and focused on the wound on her back. First, he would close all the ruptured veins to stop the blood loss. Then he would begin the real work of building up new muscle and bone to replace what had been torn out. When that was done, he would move onto healing the skin and covering it with new scales. Only when all that was complete would he begin on the wings themselves. He had no illusions this would be quick or easy. He’d already resigned himself to a long, time consuming process. But that was fine. He would take his time and be thorough. Step by step he would heal her and give her back her wings.

And almost instantly he realized his mistake.

His mother had told him once about a trip through the Barrens, a desert wasteland on Alteroth’s southern border. Once she’d spilled some water from a canteen onto the sands. The water had soaked right in and vanished. Within a couple minutes there was not even a wet spot left behind, the water had disappeared without so much as a trace.

That was what was happening to his mana. Luna’s body was devouring it like water on sand. He couldn’t even make his magic reach her wound. It was disappearing as quickly as he could produce it. He stopped and pulled his hands away.

Luna laughed. “Giving up already?”

“It’s not having any effect.”

“Human magic never does.”

“That’s not true! All the texts agree that while dragons are highly resistant, they can be impacted by magic! That’s why mages should face them in groups and cast spells on mass, so they can have an effect!”

“One time in twenty or fifty or a hundred or a thousand,” Luna announced with derision. “Same way if you fight a million ants some of them may bite you. But what can one lone ant do? So, do you want to stop?”

“Let me climb on your back.”

“What?”

“Let me put my hands right by your wound and see of that helps.”

She sighed. “Fine.”

She grabbed Waldo with a claw and dumped him on the middle of her back right near where the gash was. Luna twisted her neck so she could keep a close eye on him. Waldo slid closer and placed both hands at the lip of the tear. He recast the spell and once again began pouring his energies into her. Once more his mana vanished as quick as he produced it.

There was nothing for him to do differently, nothing to try and experiment with. He knew what needed to be done and was proficient at the use of healing magic. His method was, without a doubt, correct. The problem was it was having no effect. That meant all he could do was to keep doing what he was doing. He had always had large reserved of mana; he would use everything he had to try and overcome this resistance. He would pour water out into the desert in the hope that it might somehow be enough.

For half an hour he continued emptying his mana into the wound without effect. Then he felt a fraction of it reach his intended target.

Luna’s head snapped back. “Oh!”

“Yes,” Waldo grunted, his face was sweating. He continued, hoping he had reached some limit and that now his spell would really work. But the one tiny success came and went. His mana again vanished without result.

He did this for close to an hour before he finally stopped and pulled his hands back, ending the spell. He was breathing hard and his heart was racing. His mana was nearly depleted and continuing any further would be dangerous. Mana exhaustion could be fatal.

Seeing he was finally done Luna picked him up and put him back on the ground. Waldo’s knees almost gave, and he swayed from side to side. He needed a moment just to catch his breath.

“Darling, are you all right?” Alice let him lean against her until strength returned to his legs.

“I’m fine, Alice. Though I doubt I’ll be able to use magic again today.”

“That was amazing!” Luna sounded genuinely excited. “Your magic actually worked!”

Waldo looked at her in surprise. “Worked? I used every scrap I could and all I managed to do was close one vein. That’s all.”

“Yes! Exactly! It’s amazing! I thought you were wasting your time, but maybe you really can heal me! If you can keep working like this every single day, I think you can give me back my wings inside of twenty years! Thirty at the most!”

“Twenty years?!” Waldo cried in horror. “That long?”

“Long?” Luna laughed. “That’s not so long. I thought I would never fly again! I’ll be more than happy to wait, especially now that I’m not in pain. You truly are amazing, Waldo!”

Waldo didn’t share her enthusiasm. He’d been worried it might take two weeks to heal her, and she was talking about twenty years? Maybe thirty? Was he really going to spend the best years of his life trapped here struggling to heal this dragon? If that was what it took, he knew he would. Even if he wanted to give up, which he didn’t, the Oath wouldn’t allow it. He was bound to Luna and required to provide her pain reliever until he either healed her wings or died.

I can see about improving my magic’s effectiveness. I can try and lower her resistance. There might be ways to speed up the process. Waldo took a deep breath.

“I will heal you, no matter what it takes. I will make you my familiar and bring you home with me.”

Luna laughed. “I look forward to it. Now why don’t we go to the Drunken Porker and you can buy me a round to celebrate?”

Waldo sighed but nodded.

Chapter 22

Epilogue

A month had passed since Waldo began healing Luna.

As far as that went there was good news and bad news. The good news was that he was making progress. A vein here, an artery there, a bit of muscle growth… the condition of her wound was slooooowly improving. Luna was more than happy with the rate of progress; one could even say she was ecstatic. She spent her mornings and afternoons telling everyone what an incredible healer he was and how she would fly again one day. While she no longer drank herself into a stupor Luna had grown fond of whiskey and still liked to while away the hours at the Drunken Porker.

The bad news, of course, was how painfully miniscule the effects of each session were. At the current pace it really would take decades to complete the process. Waldo was determined not to spend the best part of his life here. He wanted to go home sometime before his late thirties or forties.

Since his stay was likely to last quite a while, he’d started building a house right next door to Luna’s pig pit. There didn’t seem much point in continuing to live in tents if this were to be an extended stay.

People were still coming to see him to beg for his help. Waldo was even less inclined to put up with this nonsense as every day spent on one of these stupid errands was one day not spent treating Luna. Alice was somewhat understanding, somewhat, and agreed they should only go on really important jobs.

Luna insisted that whenever he left, he had to hand over five doses of the pain reliever. Waldo was curious about what would happen if circumstances kept him away from Luna for over five days. This would break the terms of the Oath. The magic was supposed to compel him to keep it, but what exactly would magic do in that situation? It would most certainly do something. Waldo was not eager to try that experiment.

Then there was this whole mess with Oberon. That was a bit annoying. Drow were interesting, but their surface cousins were just plain weird. The elves back in Alteroth were regular members of society. The ones here though had almost as many stupid rules as Alice. And all the talk about being one with nature? What were they even on about?

“Well, it’s not so bad I suppose,” Waldo said to himself as he headed home. “I have an Oath with a dragon. I can complete my First Quest and go home eventually. Maybe the Dark Powers finally got bored with me.”

As he returned to Alice and a pleasant evening, he did not notice the eagle slowly circling far above him. He had no reason to use the detect monster spell. Had he, Waldo would have seen light coming from the eagle’s body. The same light any summon gave off.

XXX

Many thousands of miles away an undead figure in tattered black robes began to rasp out a laugh. “I’ve found you, grandson.”

THE END