High gloom, p.32
High Gloom, page 32
part #6 of The Bad Guys Series
It was probably a good idea to get up. Something was definitely wrong with me, and it wasn't time to go around sleeping. I had too much to get done.
But I felt remarkably tired. Maybe a quick nap wouldn't be such a bad idea. I mean, my party was all asleep, and I couldn't exactly go venturing out to get bloodcrystals without them. And there was something else I needed. Sandwater.
Checking over the quests, there was no mention of sand. I needed two physical objects: Bloodcrystals and Lifeclay. Where had the sandwater come from?
I sat bolt upright in the bed and tossed the blankets to the side.
Grim barked at me in rude surprise, and then curled up in the warm spot I'd just left and fell back asleep instantly.
"Corpse king," I whispered to myself, "you deceitful bastard."
I swear I could hear laughter in the back of my head. It was so insidious. He was toying with my brain, coming up with nonsense quests for me, and I didn’t even realize it. How the hell was I supposed to fight against that? How could I keep sane?
Focus, I thought. I had to stay on target, making sure I was fully aware every second. I had to be on watch, and I couldn't sleep until everything was done. Otherwise the corpse king could just slip in and take over. And that meant I needed to get Nox to swipe the sleep from me and take it on himself.
I got dressed, wondering what the corpse king had been thinking when I was getting undressed for bed. Clearly, he was the kind of undead who slept in the nude, at least given the evidence. Moving quickly, I rushed across GloomGuard and got to the dragon's chambers through the secret door.
Inside, I could hear pleasant chatting, but it was hard to actually make out the words, given how much sound echoed in the giant cavern.
Coming around the corner, I saw Nox resting on a chaise and Girgenerth sitting. They were drinking tea, having a snack. It all seemed, well, bizarrely normal.
"Ah," Girgenerth rumbled as he spied me walking, "the return of the elf. I am impressed at your delivery."
"My delivery?" I asked.
Girgenerth gestured to the side, where there was a huge rectangular slab of clay. It was about five feet wide, four feet tall, and maybe nine feet long.
"That's a thousand pounds?" I asked.
"Hrm," he raised a draconic eye ridge, like he was doing calculations in his head. "Probably more along the lines of eighteen-thousand pounds. More or less."
"Bit more than I needed," I said.
"Bit."
"What about the rest?"
"I'm not sure if it's a tip for me, you know, for my services, or..."
"What if I traded the rest to you for a mixture of a thank you and enough coinage to get blood crystal?"
"Is there a trader who has that much crystal on hand?"
"I didn't think to check the general store, but they might?"
"Highly doubtful."
"Do you have any?"
He squinted his eyes at me, and frowned. "Do you think so little of me that I might hold back the objects that would save you when you are so clearly in need?"
"No," I said very quickly, "but it's entirely possible, given the incredible size and breadth and depth of your, um, hoard, that you might have lost track of what's in there."
"A dragon always knows exactly whats in his hoard," Nox said.
"Okay," I said, "well, I didn't know that, so, um, thanks."
"Of course," Nox said.
"Doesn't really matter what you do with what's left over, I suppose," I said to Girgenerth.
"Maybe use it to help someone else. But that does mean I’ll need to borrow Nox here for a little spell."
"You cast spells?" Girgenerth asked his tea guest.
"Very limited," Nox replied, brushing it off. "How might I help, mas- uh, Clyde?"
"I need you to take my tiredness," I said.
"Oh bother, then—”
"If you don't, I'm going to fall asleep and you'll have a corpse king as a boss, which I'm sure will be much worse than me."
That smacked the complaints right out of the researcher. He stood up from the chaise and cast the spell.
Immediately, I felt refreshed and rejuvenated. It was never quite as nice as actually sleeping, but it was definitely something I'd take over, you know, the alternative.
"Fantastic, thank you," I said. "I'm going to rouse the others, head out in search of bloodcrystals."
"You have found some, then?” Girgenerth asked.
"It's more that I've been pointed to a spot that usually has them. If they are out, then I'm a bit SOL."
"SOL?"
"Shit out of luck."
"Ah. Interesting phraseology. I shall watch over your friend here."
I looked at Nox who was already asleep on the chaise.
"Uh, sure," I said. "He'd probably love to peruse whatever books you might have in your, um, collection."
"Oh," Girgenerth said. "That is something I should have thought of already.”
He practically dove into his gold, coins flying every which way.
I shook my head, then left.
71
The party was still sleeping when I got back, so I decided to check off one last box and swung 'round the General Store to check on their stock of bloodcrystal.
They had exactly none. Fantastic.
Apparently bloodcrystals weren't a general enough item.
I paused outside the store to look over the map Phagoris gave me. It was confusing, to say the least. On one side it had multiple overlays, because it was a three dimensional map that included the paths to take up and down through various cave systems. After I figured that aspect out, the whole thing made more sense, but was definitely still complicated. I needed someone to walk me through the whole thing, considering that I was really up against the damn wall and I needed to not get lost. If I came this way, gone through all these damn hoops, only to get lost in the Gloom and turn into the corpse king there? The corpse king would have a field day in the Gloom. So many bodies to take apart and put back together. So much death to revel in. He might never leave.
Good thing I knew where to find people to help me with a map.
I was on the way to The Kobold’s Kiss when Rose walked up beside me.
"Whatcha got there?" she asked.
I jumped a little, not noticing her.
“A map," I said.
She snatched it from my hands and glanced over it. “Of the Gloom?"
"Yes," I said, snatching it back.
"Why are you going back there?"
“I need to pick up some souvenirs for the kids back home."
"Kids?"
"Kobolds."
"You have kobolds back home?"
"I mean, I wouldn't exactly phrase it like I own them, but there are some children in my life who are also kobolds."
"Now that intrigues me."
"I'm an intriguing guy."
She followed me into the tavern.
I looked around, and saw a small table by the fire with three people sitting at it. I weaved my way through the other tables, and stood at one of the chairs.
"Mind if I sit?" I asked.
"What's she doin' here?" Karwan Welat, Gloom guide and caver asked.
I glanced over to see Rose sticking out her tongue and Karwan.
"Just leaving," she said, and she turned on her heel and walked out of the tavern.
"Now you can sit," Karwan said.
"Don't like the company you keep," one of the others at the table said to Karwan. Then they grabbed their bowl and walked away.
The other woman remained just long enough to give me a remarkably dirty look. Then she grabbed her drink hard enough she spilled some on the table, and left the tavern entirely. The barkeep rushed after her to get the mug back.
"Popular one, you” are Karwan said.
"Not sure what I did to either of them," I said.
"Neither's too happy to see you alive."
"You know, I have that effect on some people."
"Ha," he barked, "so've I. What can I do ya for?"
I pulled out the map, and put it flat on the table, doing my best to avoid the mead.
Karwan's bushy eyebrows went up when he saw it, and I saw a smile spreading underneath his overgrown mustache.
"Where is it you're trying to go here?" he asked.
I pointed to the spot Phagoris had marked with the x.
"I can see the x, elf," Karwan said with a frown. "Where is it you are actually going?"
"Where the x is," I replied.
He put the map down, and spread both hands out on the table.
"Maybe we try this a different way," he said. "Why you trying to get to this x?"
"Bloodcrystal."
"Ah. Fillin' the frog's bin?"
"Potentially. Why, is that something other people usually do? Am I taking money from someone who does this?"
"Eh. No one's been willing to go of late. So I doubt it. Might be you make friends if'n you're willing to go."
"I'm willing to go. I just need to make sure I don't get lost on the way there. Or back, really."
"Or eaten."
"I suppose that's probably a good plan as well."
"You know what would help with that?"
"A map?"
"A guide."
“You would go with me?"
"Depends on how much yer willin' to pay."
"How much do you charge?"
"To go to the bloodcrystals? Two-thousand chits."
"You ready to go?"
"Right now?"
"Basically."
"For three thousand chits, I can."
“That price is climbing quickly."
"Supply and demand."
"Four-thousand chits," I said. "You get me there and back with plenty of bloodcrystals."
"Aye," he said, barely hiding the joy in his eyes at scoring such a deal. “Meet me at the front gates. I’ll be ready as soon as I'm able."
"Deal, Karwan," I said. "Payment before?"
"Aye."
"Be right back."
I went back to the room.
Everyone was asleep. Still. The snores were loud. I tried waking up Denitza, and I managed to get her to stir, but then I caught a whiff of her breath, and it was 90 proof. Harpy was even more far gone than her. Same story with Lux.
I sat down on the bed. I didn't have time to wait for them to wake up, be hungover, and then go get the bloodcrystal. I needed it now. And if I didn’t lose any more friends in this nonsense, all the better.
There wasn't a choice in the matter — I had to go. I amended the note, withdrew funds from Hellion, and gave him a pat on the lid.
Grim stood on my bed, watching me.
"I need you to watch over them," I said. "Make sure they stay safe."
The little grimeling nodded gravely, and then walked over to Lux's pile of clothes on the ground. He rummaged through them for a moment, and came up with a small dagger. He took it, dragged it up to the bed, and then stood guard.
"Excellent," I said, without even the hint of a smile.
72
Karwan was not at the gates.
I stood there like an idiot for a good ten minutes before someone walked up behind me.
"I'm consistently impressed with how quiet your armor is," I said.
"It's good stuff," Rose replied. "But you still heard it."
"Eh, I’m just getting used to you always sneaking around me."
"I'm curious."
"I can tell."
"Where are you heading now?"
"The Gloom."
"The map?"
"Gave it to the guide."
"Karwan?"
"That's the one."
She made a face, but didn't say anything.
"What?"
"That group is a bit strange is all."
"The guides?"
"Hunters more than guides. I don't really trust them."
"Any reason?"
"Heard they've been known to drop a group they're guiding if something interesting pops up to hunt."
“Well, that’s less than ideal. But hopefully that won’t happen here."
"Want me to go with you?"
"Do you want to go with me?"
"I wouldn't mind a little adventure."
"The whole rest of my party is smashed — how are you okay?"
"I don't drink."
"I saw you drinking."
"You saw me sipping juice and pretending I was drinking."
"Why bother?"
"There are some who like to push drinks. I find it easier to pretend I'm drinking what they give me instead of making a scene."
"Goblins on goblins," I heard Karwan say.
I looked over to see him strolling over in heavy armor, with a bow in one hand and a quiver of arrows in the other. A slender but long sword bounced off one hip, and he had a length of rope wrapped around him.
"She comin'?" he asked.
"That going to be a problem?" I asked.
"Might be. Never quite know what it's going to be with her."
“All right, what's going on?" I asked. "I can't get many clear answers in this town, but I've got to get these damn bloodcrystals yesterday. So how about some clarity here?”
"Might'n you ask her about her parentage."
Rose's face went dark, and she stalked away.
"Clear enough for you?" he asked. "Chits?"
"What's the deal with her parents?" I asked as I passed over the sacks of chits.
"Not something for me to say to you," he said, "just something to remind her. You want to get there and back fast?"
"Yes."
"Then we ain't taking the trip like the map says."
"Now that fills me with confidence."
"Map's been done by someone what lives in Gloomguard, not someone what makes a living in the Gloom. That's the easy path, but it takes longer than it seems you have. My way? We get back without sleeping."
"I like that."
"You might not by the time it's done."
“A risk I'm willing to take."
"You know, elf," the older man said, clapping me hard enough on the shoulder to make dust fly off my leather armor, "I'm starting to take a shine to you."
He hollered at the guards working the gate until they opened the portcullis for him, and then he started jogging.
I followed after, hoping I wasn't doing something remarkably stupid by going out into the Gloom with a stranger. Alone.
73
I kept thinking we would slow down, but Karwan was happy jogging. I stayed pretty close to him, maybe six feet back, doing my best to follow his footsteps, stepping in them when I could.
After the first hour, we made our first turn away from the main roadway. We took a sharp turn through a very small crevasse, one where I had to suck my gut in to squeeze through. He just shoved himself through, seeming to have no issue with how tight it was. I wondered if there was some magic going on. And I definitely wondered if he was just leading me to some death hole somewhere to gut me and loot my body. That seemed like a suitably gloom-like thing to do.
Squeezing through the first passageway led to squeezing through a second, and then a third.
We got to a large cavern, and Karwan held me back.
"We're going up and over here," he whispered, pulling some climbing gear out of his pack. "Nest of Lankershims in there."
"Lankershims?"
"Nasty fungi."
"Nasty how?" I asked, squinting into the Gloom, trying to see whatever was there. It all just looked like dark blobs to me, even with my darkvision.
"Lean over and eat you nasty," he replied.
He quickly tied a rope around my waist.
"Boots?" he asked.
"Spider."
He nodded, then handed me two loops of rope, each with a small metal hook attached.
"Keep up," he said. "Tug twice if you need to rest. And try to keep the falling to a minimum."
Then he started climbing up the wall as if it was no big deal.
When it was my turn, I realized why it was no big deal. There were small handholds mounted into the wall. Clearly, this route was at least traveled enough to have a permanent way around the deadly fungi in the middle. Up and up we went, until we got close to the ceiling, where the basic handholds disappeared, replaced by metal eyelets. In an instant, the rope loops were understandable. It was a means of walking across the ceiling.
Hook goes into eye. Step onto the rope. Use the other loop to set up the next place to stand.
Repeat until you're exhausted.
It made me happy that I was able to outlast Karwan. He had to stop midway across, right around the time I was about to ask for a break. I could've broken out my stamina regen spell, but I didn't think that would be particularly wise.
"Good time to drink," he whispered as he pulled a waterskin off his belt and shot a stream of liquid into his mouth.
I did the same, not with the same panache he had, but the results were the same.
I looked down for the first time, and saw the field of fungi. They were shiny and black, between three and maybe twenty feet tall. Vertical slits went up their sides, with tendrils hanging down from their caps.
A small creature tried to make a break, running from something chasing him, and darted through the fungi. He made it a few yards before getting speared by one of the tendrils. Then a vertical slit opened up, and the squirming creature was deposited inside.
I stood on the rope loop, swaying slightly at the top of the cave. Karwan was eating something. I had some time to think. Which was both a plus and a minus. I was thinking about magic. Mana recharged faster in the Gloom, and I felt like there had to be a way to take advantage of that. But how? I did have a way to store mana externally, but that meant casting a light spell. And then I'd have a light spell active in the dark — that would most definitely attract attention we didn't want. But was there a correlation between brightness and mana storage? Or size? Could I make an incredibly dim, tiny light ball and still pump endless mana into it?
Maybe.
Was there a better time and place for experimentation?
Definitely. But I didn't have time to wait.
I grabbed an empty pouch from my belt, and cast a light ball inside. I could tell that it was there, since an incredibly faint glow came through the top of the pouch.
