The labyrinth, p.21
The Labyrinth, page 21
part #2 of The Gods' Game Series
She glanced at Gaesin who stared at the pair with a hint of envy, whether of Aiken or Kyran she knew not. Another lost cub, Gaesin was. She elbowed him roughly in the side, startling him out of his reverie. “Come, let’s give them some space and make ourselves useful.” Jutting her chin in the direction of the slavers’ camp, she said, “Those provisions are not going to gather themselves.” Reluctantly, Gaesin let Adra drag him off.
✽✽✽
Hours later, Kyran surfaced out of the bond. So lost had he been in his commune with Aiken that he had been deaf to his surroundings. He was vaguely aware of Adra and Gaesin leaving and returning with piles of supplies, which he realised with a start was what the mound in front of him was.
He looked to Aiken, instinctively knowing where he was despite the cub being out of his sight. Being a natural telepath, Aiken had adapted much quicker to the bond. In fact, Kyran got the distinct impression that this bond was commonplace amongst the bears, forming naturally between pairs and even groups of them over the course of their lives. A trickle of fear—quickly repressed—shivered through him. With a bond such as this, how much must it have hurt for the bears to lose their bond mates? No wonder some had gone mad.
Despite his attempt to hide his fears from Aiken, the cub sensed it and sent waves of reassurance his way. The companion bond between them was altogether different from other bonds he had experienced. It was deeper, stronger, and less a bond, than a union of their spirits. The bear was a large central presence in his mind. Likewise a portion of his mind resided within the bear. No longer would either of them be truly alone—they were now indelibly a part of each other. It would be almost impossible too, he realised belatedly, to hide any of his thoughts from the bear. Not, he hastened to reassure the cub, that he would ever want to. The cub’s amusement washed over him, accompanied by images of two bears. One of the bears was clearly Aiken, the other a huge silvery monster—that he noted with amusement rivalled the matriarch for size—was evidently Kyran. “Yes, brother,” he agreed. “We are pack now and of one spirit.”
He looked up to find Adra and Gaesin approaching, arms filled with scavenged items. “How are you feeling, Kyran?” asked Adra.
“Like I could sleep for days.” He shook his head ruefully. “I did not expect any of that.”
Adra smiled. “The cub has a mind of his own.”
Kyran laughed. “That he does.” He gestured to the mound. “What do we have here?”
Gaesin said, “Everything in the slavers’ camp that could be of any possible use.” He opened his arms, letting the items he carried fall onto the mound. “This is the last of them.” He hesitated, glancing at Aiken. “We found more jade skin hides but... we weren’t sure whether to bring them.”
“But you did?” At Gaesin’s hesitant nod, Kyran nodded approvingly. “Good, the bears do not attach any sentiment to their dead's remains. The matriarch told me so herself.”
“Ah good. I mean—not good, but we were worried…” said Gaesin, flushing slightly in embarrassment.
“Let’s have a look at what we have here.”
Kyran inspected the pile. Most of it was kobold armour and travel rations. He grimaced. The kobold rations, while nourishing, were not appetising. But they would have to travel hard again in the next few days and the rations would be invaluable.
There were objects of greater value in the pile though.
Found: 150 x bronze spears (215 kg).
Found: 53 x bronze chainmail vests (360 kg).
Found: Jade Bear skins x 28 (28 kg).
Found: Kobold basic travel rations x 50 (10 kg).
Found: 5 gold, 25 silver.
Found: 45 x collar of domination.
Found: 1 x Shaman’s fire staff (1.5 kg).
Found: 1 x Shaman’s water staff (1.5 kg).
Found: 30 x Poison Shrooms (0.5 kg).
Found: 4 x Minor healing salves (0.2 kg).
Acquired: 25 x frost ophidian skins.
Type: Crafting ingredient. Weight: 0.5 kg. Rank: Rare. Special properties: +75% resistance to water damage to armour crafted from this material. Description: Frost ophidian skins are a rare crafting ingredient that confer water resistance to items crafted from it.
Acquired: Spellcaster’s Ring.
Type: Enchanted Item.
Weight: 0.2 kg.
Rank: Adept.
Special Properties: +15% Wands & Staff skill.
Requirements: none.
Condition: Good.
Description: An enchanted ring crafted by the artificer, Lesh, this ring amplifies the power of a wizard’s spells when casting through his staff.
Acquired: Bracelet of Magical Shield.
Type: Enchanted Item.
Weight: 0.0 kg.
Rank: Adept.
Special Properties: Can cast magic shield.
Requirements: Supportive magic (novice).
Enchantment strength: 20 (Determined by enchanter).
Charges: 1/1 (160 essence required per charge).
Condition: Good.
Description: Infused within this bracelet is the spell design for the magic shield spell. Crafted by the artificer, Lesh.
He sighed. There were too many items to fit in his inventory. He dumped its contents, creating another little pile and then prioritising the rarest and most useful items, he repacked it. He made sure to keep all the jade bear hides, the ophidian skins and the poisonous mushrooms. The domination collars he destroyed immediately, wanting nothing to do with them. The enchanted ring and bracelet he fingered with interest. The game reported both as being created by ‘Lesh’. The calibre of both items seemed out of place, magical items of greater sophistication and skill than anything else he had found on the kobolds. Much like the collar. Who or what was ‘Lesh’? He handed both over to Gaesin, who was beside himself with gratitude.
He waved aside Gaesin’s thanks and with Adra’s help, divided the rations into four piles. They each would carry one. The largest pile they shoved in the large pack, comparing its size to Aiken. Sensing his thoughts, the cub rebelled, going so far as to hide within the earth.
Gaesin and Adra laughed at the bear’s antics while Kyran sighed in exasperation. “It’s your food, Aiken. It’s this or go hungry, brother.”
Sheepishly, Aiken resurfaced, and allowed the companions to strap on the large bag onto him. Packed and ready to go, the party set off on the long journey back to the North Core cavern—in hope that the way remained open still.
✽✽✽
The party was upbeat, having successfully rescued the bears and defeated the kobold slavers. Kyran, though, was still troubled by the domination collars. The number of collars the slavers had carried was startling. As were the two sophisticated enchantments they bore.
The kobolds were primitive and surely did not have the capacity to construct advanced artefacts of this sort. The bears did not know where the collars had come from either. Who provided the collars to the kobolds and why? Then there was the strange matter of the kobolds fortifying the North Core and the army on its way there. The matriarch had been surprised to hear of it and the undead had not known of it either.
Kyran did not like what his instincts were telling him. That he was being hunted. Maybe he was being paranoid but his intuition had served him well on the streets. He was not about to ignore it now. They had to get out of the labyrinth fast. Sensing his troubled thoughts, Aiken projected a query at him.
“I fear we are being hunted, brother,” he said, accompanying the sending with images of kobold parties converging on them.
Aiken returned an image of a young—and much handsomer bear—bowling over and gleefully mauling his way through the kobolds.
Kyran laughed, his mood lightened by Aiken's straightforward and bloodthirsty approach.
✽✽✽
A week had passed since Elasien’s message. The brotherhood party had force-marched north until they reached the area through which the Iyran company was likely to pass. That had been four days ago.
Mirien and the rest of Deegan’s team had been confined to camp while Falsin’s rangers searched for the paladins. Mirien had wanted to join the hunt but Deegan forbade it. He insisted she remained at camp in case they deployed without notice.
With little to do, Mirien had fretted over the forthcoming battle. She turned scenarios over in her mind but no matter how hard she tried, she could not come up with a plan in which twenty brotherhood soldiers defeated one hundred veteran paladins. The days passed and her anxiety waned, turning first into frustration, then boredom, then impatience and finally concern—mixed with relief—as she began to suspect they had missed the Iyran paladin company altogether.
But all that changed this morning.
The rangers finally found the paladins. The Iyran company had made poor time through the forest and were still days east of their position. Unlike the brotherhood party, the Iyran one had favoured force over stealth and were carving out a path through the forest by brute force, all but shouting out their presence. They drew attacks from far and wide, and while the paladins handled the attacks handily, their progress through the forest had been considerably slowed.
Deegan, Mirien and Falsin gathered in the camp’s makeshift command centre to finalise the plans for the ambush. After hours of discussion it became apparent that they had no new ground to cover. They had failed to come up with a viable plan. Tempers frayed and the conversation quickly broke down into snapped remarks, growls, and grunts of frustration. Mirien withdrew into silence. The rangers’ report on the Iyran company’s progress had given her an idea. She turned it over in her mind as a plan began to take shape. Both team leaders darted her several looks, noting her silence. They left her undisturbed, trusting her to voice her thoughts when ready.
“There might be a way,” said Mirien at last. The two men immediately fell silent and focused their attention on her. They knew as well as she did that their conversation had devolved into hollow rehashing of futile plans. Both were relieved to leave off and eagerly awaited her thoughts.
“We’ve been attempting to come up with a plan in which twenty brotherhood soldiers can defeat a hundred paladins, accompanied by a champion, no less. And we have failed. It is time we accept such is not possible.”
Deegan lowered his brows unhappily. “You’re not suggesting—”
Mirien held up her hand. “Hear me out. We don’t have the numbers. But we can use others who do.”
“How?” growled Deegan.
“The goblin tribe,” said Mirien.
“Goblins?” laughed Falsin. “How do you propose on securing their allegiance? They are half-feral and likely to attack on sight.”
“Exactly,” said Mirien. “We don’t need their cooperation. Instead we trust to their nature and lure them into the paladins’ path, after which they will surely do our work for us.”
Falsin scowled. “The tribe is camped half a day north of here. That is a long time to keep them on the hook, not to mention dangerous for the bait—which will no doubt be my rangers.”
Mirien shrugged. “Would you rather face the paladins in open combat? Because that is the only other choice.”
Falsin’s scowl deepened but he offered no further protest. He did not like the idea of using his rangers as bait but the plan had merit.
Deegan, meanwhile, looked thoughtful. “How many goblins do you think you can lure?”
Falsin considered. “The tribe is about two thousand strong with maybe five hundred warriors. Assuming the goblins don’t leave their camp undefended, I’d guess they would send, perhaps two hundred warriors in pursuit of anyone found foolishly wandering their perimeter.”
Deegan nodded. “Yes, it could work. The idea is sound, Mirien, but the goblins will not be enough on their own. We will need to lure more of the forest denizens into the paladins’ path.”
Falsin and Mirien traded looks. Falsin said, “There is a pack of dire wolves but no… they’re too smart to attack a force of that size. Hmm… there is a family of ogres to the west and some mud golems to the south. We should be able to lure them.”
“Good,” said Deegan. “What else?”
They fell silent, thinking. Mirien hesitated, then said, “What of the manticore mating pair in that valley we skirted a day back?”
“No!” said Falsin in time to Deegan’s “Yes!”
“Don’t be a fool, Deegan! Tangling with manticores is insanity and trying to lure them even crazier.”
“It is a risk, I agree, Falsin, but one we must hazard. The golems, goblins and ogres alone won’t stop the paladins, no matter their numbers. The manticores, though. They are highly resistant to divine magic and even a company of paladins will be hard-pressed to deal with a pair of them.”
Falsin nodded glumly.
Deegan’s eyes sparkled with amusement. He said, “Cheer up, Falsin. Leave the manticores to Mirien and me. You and your rangers can handle the rest.”
Falsin glanced at Mirien and if anything, looked glummer.
✽✽✽
Chapter 15
06 Sepa 2603 AB
The journey north was uneventful. They had made good progress and would reach the North Core tomorrow. Adra had chosen a small cul-de-sac as their camp and the three moved about efficiently setting up for the night, while Aiken kept watch.
Looking at his companions, Kyran realised that in a relatively short span of time that they had become a well-knit team. There was little talk as everyone knew their assigned chores. Adra had taken naturally to her role as the party scout and Gaesin was growing into his position as their healer and support caster. Aiken, naturally, would slot into the role of front-line melee trooper.
With the chores done, they discussed what tomorrow would bring. “I suspect we will see a heavy kobold presence near the Core. We will need to proceed cautiously,” said Kyran.
“And if we encounter patrols? Do we fight?” asked Adra.
Kyran shook his head. “Not until we know what we face. We proceed in stealth for as long as we can.”
Gaesin nodded in agreement. Aiken, his great bulk lying across the tunnel mouth, huffed loudly in dissent.
Ignoring Aiken’s displeasure at letting kobolds escape, Kyran turned to Adra. “We will be depending on you to guide us around the kobold patrols.”
Adra nodded, accepting the responsibility.
“Between Adra’s scouting and my show hostiles, we will be well forewarned and able to detour around any patrols. But Aiken will have to travel belowground—we have little chance of hiding his great bulk otherwise.”
Aiken’s indignant reply set the party laughing, and in high spirits, they settled down for the night.
✽✽✽
The party broke camp early the next morning and set out immediately. The first few hours passed without incident, yet steadily the tension grew. They hoped not to, but expected to encounter resistance. Near noon, the moment Kyran dreaded arrived.
“Kobolds ahead,” sent Adra.
Kyran waited. A moment later. “A small party, ten in number heading north. We can evade them by taking the side tunnel fifty metres ahead of you.”
Kyran agreed and the party regrouped in the new tunnel. Adra took the lead once more and they set out. An hour later they encountered another kobold party, ten strong again. This one too, they easily evaded. Few hours later, after avoiding six more patrols, all of uniform size, it was apparent that the patrols were but part of a larger well-organised force.
Kyran was now certain that the North Core had been reclaimed. What worried him was the size of the occupying force and whether they would be able to break through. With at least eighty kobolds on patrol alone, it had to be a significant one. They would find out soon; they were almost there.
“I’ve reached the cavern,” said Adra. Involuntarily, Kyran stopped, Gaesin with him. He waited patiently. The suspense dragged on for long minutes. Shifting anxiously from foot to foot, Kyran was about to prompt Adra when she replied, “There are at least five hundred kobolds camped here.”
Kyran’s heart plummeted. Besides him, Gaesin paled. As he feared, it was too many. Sensing Kyran’s thoughts, a silent apology floated up from Aiken. “No, brother, this is not your fault,” Kyran reassured him. He called Adra back. They had some difficult decisions to make.
✽✽✽
Adra returned quickly, panting slightly from her haste. “Kyran, the kobolds look to be preparing for a long stay, with permanent fortifications going up. I spotted at least ten shamans and three troops of elite guards.
Kyran nodded unhappily. It was no use. The four of them could not defeat a force of that size. Not without careful forethought and planning. And likely, not even then. But they couldn’t stay here. It was too dangerous. “We retreat and then figure out our next move.”
The rest of the day went by in a blur as the party dodged kobold patrols. By day’s end the party escaped undetected, reaching their camp of the night before, this time with much lower spirits.
✽✽✽
Kyran had a decision to make. Since receiving the quest to find the thirteenth well, he had not thought much about it. Now though, it offered hope. He pulled out Eld’s note and reread it. And then the map from the undead, scrutinising it.
Two choices lay before him. One, head back to the North Core and attempt to force a way through the kobolds or…. Two, try to exit the labyrinth through the dwarven city. To do that, he needed to take control of the city. What exactly that entailed, he was not sure. But it required an essence well, that much he knew. Which meant finding the thirteenth well. The matriarch had said it was beyond the West Core. A journey of many days, he saw, staring down at the map. What worried him was her vague description of death surrounding it.
So, which way to go? The first option was straightforward and dangerous, and if he was being honest, almost impossible. The second, longer, convoluted, and likely no less dangerous but perhaps… possible.
