Surface World 2 Read online

His glassy eyes betrayed him. He was in pain, “It is temporary… a few moments,” his heart plunged. Their deaths tore at him and questioned his actions.

  Tatiana glanced at the door, “That is an awful way to die,” she whispered.

  He felt like the monster his people are legend for. “I have no other means,” he replied solemnly.

  Seeker saw the conflict in the prince. He was unlike his father. The empire feared the duke for good reason.

  Rem heard upon his return and frowned after seeing Dregous’s condition. He whispered to the princess, “I feared this… how bad?” Tatiana silently studied the mage trying to keep her worry at bay.

  Dregous expressed no remorse. His eyes showed otherwise. She saw pity, pain, as if he were lost and alone. The princess wanted to comfort him, but he built a wall impressing a cold distance. Forgive me my love, Tatiana thought and prayed Ukko to ease his torment. His light was dimming and didn’t know how to save him.

  Seeker sensed danger where they came from and motioned Tuke, “We have company.”

  Tuke peeked and saw nothing, then heard marching. He gingerly went back to inform the others. “We are not clear yet. Many are coming.”

  “From?” Tatiana blinked back tears and feared she may be losing him to his demons. The princess didn’t want anyone knowing her heart was breaking and unsheathed her sword. She knew she asked too much of him.

  “Our only exit princess,” Tuke answered, then looked at Dregous, “How is he?”

  “He was tired from the fight, my request made him worse,” she looked back sadly, “How many?”

  Rem glanced, “We cannot fight… look at him. If he keeps this up…”

  Tatiana interrupted, “I know.”

  “You know as well as I… …it will…”

  Tatiana cut in, “Please do not say it,” she whispered and pressed her cheek against Rem’s. He felt for her. The ranger couldn’t imagine what she must be feeling and studied her.

  Tuke pushed aside what he sensed from her and Dregous, “Forgive me princess…”

  She cut in, glanced at him, “Tatiana would do.”

  Tuke conceded, “We are trapped.”

  Her eyes didn’t leave Dregous, “That does not bode well.”

  Seeker managed to get Rem’s attention and signaled him a rough count flashing her hand three times.

  “We can hide in the barracks?” Rem suggested.

  “We do not know if they are all dead yet, and if they were, the door is sealed a few moments longer.”

  “How?” Rem asked.

  “He sealed…,” Tatiana replied.

  “Great…,” Rem hissed, “We do not have a few moments.”

  “I know, we will have to…” when she heard the marching and glanced.

  Rem blurted, “Angelique signaled 15… it sounds like more.” Seeker rejoined the group as they tried hatching a hasty plan. Dregous struggled to his feet undetected. He concealed the wand in his cloak’s sleeve and stealthily made his way to the intersection.

  Seeker noticed Dregous when he reached the intersection, “My lord?” she whispered.

  Tatiana and the others looked. He uttered something. “Dregous… Dregous what are you doing?” Tatiana hissed.

  “Good heavens,” Tuke uttered. He looked like he was sleepwalking.

  Tatiana started for him, Rem restrained her, “Remember the forest, he may not recognize us. Besides, he holds his wand.” Her face filled with worry when the marching stopped.

  Dregous spoke goblinese. “Oug marr, mehdiesh fouhoo gen uoblafv…, Cehru cenn juck tahvash oug nett,” he stated.

  Some goblins chuckled, wondering what a Dark Elf was doing there. “Vos oug. Yeumm pasmoug oug. Reei bod cenn ameh an. Eemo oug,” spoke what looked like a super goblin. Dregous felt his deep resonating voice from over five meters away.

  The Drouwen smiled, “Wohmaccou. juck reei ouffmugh mish mish zoon.” He uttered the command word leveling the wand. The goblin charged and managed to come within half a meter before the wand activated. It blasted him back against his troops. The steam roared, scorching everything in its’ stony path.

  Seconds later, when the steam cleared the corridor was warm and damp, leaving behind in its’ wake, a pool of bodies. A few groaned. Some had their fingers stripped of flesh while others had large ruptured blisters exposing tender green skin.

  Lingering wisps of mist soon cleared as the large goblin stood, posing no challenge. “Yeumm gen oug iyom?” he asked.

  “Kesceuh oug mish Dregouc Von’Negrouc zek de ouffmegh mish vahm,” the injured goblin retreated. Slowly the prince staggered his way back.

  The others came, “It looks worse than it did in the woods,” Rem rubbed his chin and cheek. Seeker looked between Dregous and the bodies in concerned silence.

  Tuke’s wide eyes surveyed the bodies, “Oh my,” then began praying for the dead.

  “Worst,” Tatiana whispered. Every action he takes draws him further away. She feared she couldn’t reach him and prayed he wouldn’t shun her.

  The princess started for Dregous again, when Rem grabbed her arm. When their eyes met, “Cautiously, remember the woods,” he warned.

  Tatiana watched him stagger then slide against the wall to the stone floor with a rough plop. Her heart skipped. “Oh Rem…,” she groaned painfully.

  “I am here if you need me,” he released her, “Remember, gently…”

  Tatiana approached gingerly and knelt before him, “Dregous?” she whispered. His eyes were closed and his breath shallow, “Dregous.”

  “I am here,” his eyes still closed.

  “Are you…”

  He cut in, “Very tired….”

  Her lips thinned with worry, “Forgive me, I should not have…,” his head lowered a bit. “Dregous?” she studied him. “Dregous?” he teetered toward her. “Ukko no,” she whispered. “Tuke… Tuke something is wrong!” Tatiana pulled him into her arms, his body flopped against her, she didn’t feel him breathing. “Rem!” her voice hoarse, “He is not breathing! He is not…” she shouted, then whispered in Dregous’s ear, “Do not leave me, do not leave me…,” she held him, “Do not leave me.”

  Tatiana startled Rem, “What!” he rushed with the others on his heels. Seeker stopped and looked between the group and both ends of the corridor. Someone had to keep watch and stood behind. She prayed the prince wouldn’t die.

  Her frightened and glassy eyes hastened the priest to act, “Tuke do something.”

  He gently pulled Dregous from her, “I have him, I have him…,” and laid him down. “Straighten his legs,” she did. Rem and Seeker stood by as Tuke examined him. Rem kneeled beside the princess and hugged her from the side. She momentarily leaned her head against his shoulder, then regained her composure, sniffing back her fears. “I need the looking… …Rem, the looking glass, where is it?”

  Seeker checked the corridor then hastily searched Dregous’s pack. “What is the glass for?” Tatiana sniffed passing her hands over her eyes and nose.

  Seeker rushed, “Here,” then returned to her post.

  Tuke placed it under his nose. “If the glass fogs, he draws breath,” moments later the glass mist, and Tatiana sighed.

  ***

  Dregous awoke and found Tatiana’s near white eyes on him and marveled at her beauty. “I must have dozed off,” he sighed.

  She felt relieved and spoke gently, “More like half a day,” the look on his face gave her a gentle smile. She explained what happened. He didn’t remember anything after the webbing. “Angelique translated what you said. I can see why they stopped…,” she started.

  “What did I say?”

  “Well, you said, you were death on black wings.”

  “I did n… I would not say such a thing… did I?” he looked at Seeker.

  “In a nut shell… yes,” she nodded. Dregous looked surprised. “On a lighter note… while you rested, we collected their goods.” She tallied hundreds in gold, silver, nickel and copper coins, some gem, silver
candelabras, silver urns of various sizes and designs, potions, and 3 lavishly decorated swords.

  Dregous listened carefully. That wasn’t something they would normally carry. It seemed to him that was a haul they were returning for the treasury.

  “Quite a haul,” Rem grinned.

  “A fortune indeed,” Tuke agreed.

  Seeker noticed Dregous’s silence, “My lord?”

  He pondered the thought of the treasury. If so, they were bringing it to gathering for cataloging then storing it. “There is more,” he answered softly.

  They looked at him curiously, “Could you repeat that?” Tatiana requested.

  “The goblins back home do not have this kind of wealth. These do, and are organized. Also, they are working with an enemy,” he looked at them. “This type of organization is… militant. Which means…?”

  “A treasury,” Rem chimed.

  “A treasury….” Dregous nodded, “The wealth within should be quite grand.”

  “How do we find this vault?” Tuke asked.

  “One chamber at a time,” Tatiana jumped in.

  “Correct,” Dregous confirmed. “This place, for all intents and purposes is a military outpost, albeit simple.”

  “Great, in other words we have to fight everyone here.” Rem stated.

  “Not exactly, they would have been on top of us once the wand silenced,” Seeker added.

  “Well…, the sixty-five in the barracks and the forty–plus in the corridor… like Angelique said, should be empty,” Tatiana added. Dregous buried his remorse deep after hearing the death toll by his hand.

  Tuke sensed Dregous’s sorrow and gave him a quick glance, “How many are normally stationed in an outpost?”

  “Depends, a place this size, a few hundred or so,” Rem answered. “Bear in mind, there are area’s yet unexplored.”

  “At least the odds seem in our favor,” Tatiana added.

  The group gathered the booty and piled it in the gambling chamber while Dregous rested. They covered it with blankets from the quarters along with the bodies. The prince figured the party gathered the bodies in the barracks.

  Moments later they continued. They elected to take the corridor they first passed. Seeker took point and spied around the corner. The corridor was clear as they proceeded. Thirty meters later they came to a door on the left. She inspected the door and easily picked the lock open. Rem opened it and Tatiana charged in with the others on her heels.

  A bed occupied the room paired with night tables. A footlocker sat at the foot of the bed. The left wall was lined with books. The far left, a large oak desk accompanied by a drawing table. The walls were adorned with exquisite tapestries and paintings.

  Dregous closed the door and murmured, “Impressive.”

  “The resident has lavished taste,” Tatiana commented.

  “Very,” Tuke agreed.

  Tatiana stole a quick glance at Tuke. “Angelique, secure the door.” Seeker examined it, it had a lock.

  “This place must have a hefty vault!” Rem deduced excitedly.

  Dregous walked to the books then the desk. He noticed ledgers and two ink wells. Curious, he thought.

  “There is quite a bit here,” Rem rubbed his fingers. “Besides, who is to say we did not kill him already.” as he peered under the plush bed. Dregous realized this is the first indication someone other than goblins and Gnolls reside here. He searched the desk. Seeker then inspected the bookshelf for hidden compartments. She continued halfway around the room stopping at the bed.

  Tatiana joined Dregous. “What are we looking for?”

  “Anything indicating why they are here.”

  They shuffled through papers and ledgers containing inventory, roster of goblins and Gnolls. The records showed supplies enough for an army of over a thousand for a year. There was indication of more troops, 2000 plus combined units of goblins and Gnolls.

  Dregous looked at Tatiana, “What is it?”

  “We may soon have company,” she read aloud when she got the groups attention. The document contained information of a small army of 3500 strong joining them.

  “I think it is time to leave,” Rem suggested.

  “Agreed,” Seeker added.

  Dregous focused on his opening cast. The draws sprung open. He sank in the fancy chair and found more papers.

  Tatiana found a lavishly decorated bone case trimmed in gold and platinum. “Dregous?” she opened it.

  The seal made his heart ping with curiosity, “Angel wait,” he searched his pack.

  “What is it?”

  “I recognized that seal,” he retrieved his new spell book.

  “What seal?”

  “This one,” he compared them, they matched. “I believe you discovered a piece of the puzzle…,” he reached for the scroll case and thought, the resident of this chamber is the mage I defeated, “May I?”

  “Please.”

  Rem's curiosity drew him closer. “What does it say?” he asked. Tuke glanced back.

  “Apparently, the occupant is not a concern,” the mage returned his book in his pack.

  “Why is that?” Rem looked between them. Tatiana waited.

  “He was the mage I dueled. This confirms he commanded this station and is a member of Riverdale’s academy,” Dregous voiced his earlier speculation.

  Tuke couldn’t believe what he heard, “What, you must be mistaken.”

  They remained silent, “Current evidence states otherwise,” the prince replied mildly.

  “Why?” Tuke sounded defeated.

  “Revenge, hate, greed, or perhaps the worst reason of all…,” they looked at Rem, “Because he simply wanted to,” he said sadly.

  “Distressing but true,” Dregous commented.

  “Unbelievable… a traitor in their mist, and a wizard at that,” Tuke said.

  “And no one knows,” Tatiana added.

  “Their plan will succeed, if we do not inform them,” Dregous stated.

  “They must be informed,” Tuke declared.

  “Agreed… but evidence must be gathered first,” Dregous said. “Angel?”

  Tatiana wasn’t certain about going to the humans for anything. Though the thought of allowing the town to be slaughtered wasn’t appealing. “Yes,” she addressed Tuke, “We must retain proof.”

  “Very well, what does the scroll say?” Seeker enquired.

  Dregous cleared the desk and broke the seal. He used the case to weigh it down. Once pinned, he examined it and noted the writing. It was standard writing incased runic symbols.

  “What does it say?” Tatiana leaned closer.

  “Well…” it exploded sending Dregous and Tatiana against the wall. The explosion splintered the desk in half. Rem fell back. Tuke and Seeker managed to catch him sending them tumbling.

  The princess hit the wall barely shielding her face. Half of the desk struck her back, stunning her and settled atop her. Rem, Tuke and Seeker gathered themselves and surveyed the damage. They saw Dregous against the wall and the princess under half a desk.

  “What the…?” Rem started.

  Chapter 11

  A king once asked what separates great leaders from others? My response was simple but valid. His arrogance blinded him. Months later, I fabricated a war with his rival. At weeks end, he was ready to surrender. I intervened, and negotiated a treaty. His leadership was less than adequate. He was allowed to maintain his realm but as my vassal.

  Journals of the Imperial court scribe

  Tatiana shook her head and realized her head ached, groaned, then looked through her hair. Her vision blurred, “Dregous… Rem, Tuke, Angelique…?”

  “Easy now, I have you,” startled, Tatiana pushed away ready to fight. “Easy, easy, it is I, Tuke…,” he helped her to her feet. “How bad are you…?”

  She blinked widely to clear her vision and groaned again, then saw Rem over Dregous, “What are…!”

  The priest held her firmly. “Easy…, he is helping him… the blast knocked
you both out.”

  She looked at Seeker, “We were spared,” as she held Tatiana steady.

  “Angelique and I managed to keep Rem from injury.”

  The princess looked at Dregous, “How is he?” she made her way to him.”

  “Better now. Rem managed him a healing potion,” Tuke replied. Seeker went to the door and peeked out, still clear.

  “Rem…,” Tatiana said.

  “I did not bother checking. I just gave him the potion. I figured a blast like that…” he paused, “well, the healing potion would do him good all around.”

  “I am grateful…,” she gently pressed her cheek against his. “Truly,” she caressed his face and kissed his cheek. Tatiana held her tears. Rem was surprised, he didn’t expect her reaction. That was the second time. She is so gentle, he thought.

  “Still clear…,” Seeker announced.

  Tatiana leaned closer, “Dregous…?”

  He groaned, “Angel,” and sighed.

  “What happened?”

  He moaned, “I deserve that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Yeah, what she said,” Rem added.

  “It was a magical trap… for idiots…, like me. Had I held it, it would have been disastrous.”

  “You were not far from…,” Rem caught them staring and stopped, cleared his throat, “Um, I think something over there is calling me,” and resumed his search.

  She slapped his arm gently, “You almost scared the feathers off me. I thought…,”

  Dregous interrupted, “Why did you do that…?” and saw the look on her face, “Apologies Angel… It will not happen again,” he assured.

  “I pray not. I never know with you,” she stated. “You did not answer my question?” The others peeked as Tatiana gave him a tongue lashing. Seeker smiled while monitoring the door.

  “That is twice now, just so you know,” he stretched his shoulder. “I should have known it was a trap.”

  Tatiana pulled out a cloth and carefully cleaned the soot off his face.

  He briefly explained how jealously mages covet knowledge. A magical trap discourages further prying. He was fortunate they were with him.

  “That is horrid.” Tuke commented.

  “Wow, mages are wicked,” Rem added.