CH 12
Although not happy, the group of wizards were able to show a shadow of the event. Eric watched as three men covered in multicolored robes attacked Kitiara and Saphin with magic. Kitiara fell, Saphrin wasn't able to move until the men disappeared.
"So, that was the true color of those robes," Eric announced. "Anyone know who they were or where they went?"
"They were followers of Chaos," a White Robed wizard stated. "I saw one during my training at the high tower of sorcery when I was there to be tested."
"Windslow is correct," a Black robed wizard agreed. "I saw one there as well. Apparently, our Commander was taken to cause us to resume fighting each other again."
"Any idea where they are?"
The black robe wizard shook his head. "Chaos is everywhere, and promotes discord. The followers are also very secretive. A castle or keep of theirs has never been found, " he explained.
"That does explain all these wars," Eric noted. "It looks like if we want Kitiara back, we're going to have to find them."
Sir Garth said," We will supply you the Knights and wizards to retrieve her."
"So will we," the Black Knight general said.
Eric winced. "I don't think it's a good idea you both send people. Remember, these people want chaos. They may well cause it if both your groups come with me. We might be fighting each other long before we get there."
"That is true," a white robed wizard agreed.
"Who do we send then?" Laurana asked.
Eric looked at Tikiez then Saphrin. "Sally, go find Lily, she hadn't come back yet. She's probably guarding Tanis, ask him to loan her to me."
Sally nodded and disappeared.
"Why take just Kitiara?" a the Black Knight general asked.
Eric shrugged. "Maybe because they could not get to Laurana here. Kitiara was on her way here, a target of opportunity. What's important now, is finding them and Kitiara, then making sure this never happens again."
Saphrin and Lily appeared. Lily bore a frantic face. "Eric! You have to save Master!" she cried.
Eric felt a chill go down his spine. "Tell me what happened."
Lily explained finding Tanis, Kitiara, Elanza and Betty all captured, and the fight with the wizards and orcs, then Betty's death. As she spoke, Eric's face turned hard.
"Master, if they can stop us, how do we free them?" Tikiez asked, looking worried.
Eric stared at nothing for a moment. These wizards were able to hold demons in place, powerful magic. Whoever was behind this also had muscle, orcs. That was a deadly combination in this world. This twisted fuck had let Lily go, knowing he would come. He would be ready for Eric and any forces Eric brought with him. Eric's anger built at the low down actions of these monsters. He knew this guy was expecting demons, wizards and warriors to come. Eric had other ideas.
Catching his thoughts, Tikiez asked, "Master?"
Eric glanced at her. He also noted everyone was watching him. He looked at Laurana, who bore a glazed over face. Tanis was captured, as was Elanza, she had a right to be worried. In a hard tone due to his anger, he said, "I need you to do something for me."
'Anything to get Tanis back," she assured him.
Quickly, he took his amulets off and dropped them around her neck. Laurana recoiled, Tikiez cried out, "What are you doing!"
Hands on her shoulders. Eric stared at a shocked Laurana and said, "Keep them here and safe. Protect yourself. Understood?"
Laurana nodded weakly.
Tikiez spun Eric around, eyeing him with her own look of shock. "What are you doing?" she cried, her face filled with betrayal.
"Keeping you and Sally safe. If I don't return, Laurana is your Master now."
"No!" Tikiez cried, her eye watering up. "You're my Master! How could you do this to me!"
"Because I'm no longer here," he stated. He closed his eyes and disappeared.
Tikiez and Saphrin felt the separation when Eric vanished. He was no longer in this world. They both gasped. Tikiez dropped to her knees, staring at nothing. "He left me," she said weakly. "why?"
With a crooked grin, Lily said, "I got a feeling Mr. Ugly has brought down hell upon himself, and Eric will be wielding it."
.
Upon awakening, Tanis also tried to struggle free of his bonds. Like the others, his arms and legs were bound most of their length, ensuring he could not slip free.
"Tanis, can you get free?" Elanza asked.
He looked around. Blood and empty chains were on the floor. The single iron door to the room was shut. "No, where are we?"
"In a dungeon, someplace. They killed Betty, and froze Lily then chopped her up," Elanza said in dull tone. "This really ugly guy captured us so Eric will come to our rescue. We have no way out, no way to warn Eric."
"Who captured us?"
"Wizards, orcs, this really ugly man with a very ugly robe. Tanis, they froze Lily in place and cut her apart. I fear they will do the same to Eric."
Another groan and Kitiara woke up and struggle against her bonds.
"Save your energy, Kit," Tanis told her. "We're tied up tight."
"If I get free, whoever did this is going to pay!" Kitiara spat.
"Think!" Tanis coaxed. "Look at how we're tied. Can you think of any way to get us free?"
Kitiara studied their bonds. "Damn it!" she spat. "Maybe I can call Skie." She closed her eyes to concentrate.
.
Skie did feel her Master. Flying high over the countryside, she located the pile of rock Master was in. Circling down she looked for an entrance. The only thing she saw was a dead human. Landing by the corpse, she noted a blood trail that lead to what looked like a shallow cave. Skie drew in as much breath as possible.
Breathing lightning onto the stone, the bolts didn't hit, but were stopped short of her target. Again she breathed lightning to no avail. She let out a growl of anger.
Trying another approach, Skie landed on the jumbled surface. She pulled and ripped at the stones. Not one would come loose. She then flew off and grabbed a small boulder. Flying high, she threw the boulder down on the rubble. It landed and broke up as it bounced away.
That was all Skie could think of to do. She let out a roar of anger then flew down a ways from the entrance into brush. Changing into her human form, she hid in the brush and watched the entrance. When someone came out, she would be waiting for them.
.
In Chicago, Eric visited the gun shop he went to.
Coming in, he waved to the attendant.
The attendant smiled. "Mr. Carvon! What can I do for you today?"
Eric came over to him and said, "I've been invited to an elephant hunt in Africa. From what I'm told, my 30-30 won't be enough. I need a much bigger gun. The guy also said this will be long range hunting, at least 200 yards, if not farther."
"He is right," the attendant agreed. "I got something here that will fit the bill."
On he wall behind him where the rifles were displayed, the man took a long, heavy looking bolt action rifle down and brought it to the counter. Laying it before Eric, he said, "This is a high-powered 50 caliber rifle. The sights on the back here are calibrated out to 500 yards. Mind you, it's not very nice to your shoulder when you touch it off, but it will down anything living." He then pulled out a tall box of ammunition and pulled out a four inch long, fat shell. "This is the ammo for that monster. I highly recommend recoil pad with it. The pad fits on the end and will keep you from getting a bruise when you fire it. You best practice first before taking it out on a hunt."
"I sure will," Eric agreed. "I figure I might need to practice a lot with this thing. Got say, three boxes of shells?"
The attendant grinned and pulled out another two boxes of 20 shells each. "Just don't do too much at one time, this thing will rattle your brains. Checked it out myself, had a headache and a sore shoulder til the next day from firing it."
"I'll be careful. How much I owe ya?"
After the transaction, Eric asked, "Oh, by the way, I decided to get into the mining business. Know where I can pick up some explosives?"
.
In the Sir Garth's common room he frowned and said, "So when faced with danger, this Eric Carvon runs away."
"My Master is NOT a coward!" Tikiez spat at him with a glare.
"Tikiez, sit," Laurana commanded.
Tikiez eyed her, picked her chair off the floor where she'd flung it back upon standing to respond to that human's insult. She put the chair in place and sat down heavily, eyeing Sir Garth with black eyes.
To Sir Garth, Laurana said, "I doubt he is running away. He has something planned, I saw it in his eyes. He knows his demons will not be effective, that is why he left them with me. It also makes sense he would not want the enemy to know what he's up to, so he could not tell us."
"You believe there are spies about?"
Laurana replied, "Sir Garth, you'd be a fool not to. How else did these Chaos people know where to find Kitiara and Eric's family?"
On Tikiez's other side, Saphrin sat elbow on the table, her head propped up on her arm with a bored look on her face. "I really hope he comes back soon," she grumbled.
"Master will return," Tikiez stated.
Instead of the constant teasing, inflating remarks and trying to shock everyone they saw, both of Eric's demons were subdued. At times, Laurana had to look to make sure they were still there, they were so quiet. Tikiez was looking lost, and Laurana was sure she quietly cried to herself from time to time. Laurana saw the tear tracks on her cheeks. Despite knowing demons were made and didn't have emotions, she had to wonder if that was true. Tikiez was very upset Eric had given her amulet over to Laurana.
"He just left by himself," Sir Garth reminded them. "He didn't even accept any help from anyone, and gave his own demons away."
Saphrin let out a snort. "If you really think our Master need wizards or fighting men to back him up, you are a fool. You think he needs us to do things?" she asked as she pointed at Tikiez. "You can't possible understand that Eric's power is in his own hand. Yes, he uses us, we do things for him to make it easier on him. The only reason we were with him was he pulled us out of our prisons. He saved our asses, just like he did everything possible to save the people here. Like Laurana said, he's up to something he doesn't want anyone to know about until he's ready." She then let out another huff and added, "I just wish he'd hurry up about it."
Tikiez sat up briefly and looked around, then with a sigh, she slumped back down to pout.
"What is it?" Laurana asked.
Scowling, Tikiez told her, "I felt him here in Krynn, just for a moment."
Eric retrieved his sword and shotgun from the wagon. Not really using the sword, except for lopping off Tikez's head, he needed another backup weapon. Once he had his supplies in the warehouse, he took a walk around Chicago to see if Duncan was still around. He did need to learn how to use his sword. Just in case.
After two days of searching, he did feel the headache tingle of another immortal. Following the feeling he went into a bar. Music was playing, he saw the Singer. It was Amanda. Dressed in a black, shape revealing dress that looked like she'd been poured into it, she was singing to the crowd in a smooth sexy tone. He found a seat and watched her. She looked his way, he waved.
A waitress came by, Eric ordered a beer and gave her a gold coin. The waitress stared at it.
"Keep the tip," Eric told her.
"This is real gold?" she asked.
"Go have it appraised, and yes, it's real."
She quickly brought his beer to him. He thanked her, then took a sip. Wow, this stuff was weak. Damn near water from what he was used to drinking. He nursed his flavored water through Amanda's numbr.
When she was done with her act, Amanda came over to sit on the other side of his table. "So, what do you want?" she asked.
"Got a sword, just not very proficient with it," Eric said. "I was hoping you could show me how to use it."
"Looking to take a head?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Nope, Just need to know how for a backup weapon." Looking at his drink, he asked, "Whoever makes this stuff has gotten it wrong."
Amanda laughed. "So to help you, what's in it for me?"
"What do you want?"
Grinning she leaned closer and asked "What have you got?"
Eric pondered a moment, then said, "How about … thirty pounds of gold."
"How about forty?" Anamda countered.
"Nope, thirty."
Amanda let out a playful grumble. "You say thirty, I say forty. How about thirty seven?"
"Nope, thirty."
"You aren't cooperating her," Amanda told him. "It's called bargaining."
"You want to bargain?" he asked and leaned towards her. "Tell you what, I need to get into a place. You try to be a thief, but once inside, you seem to fail. How about you get me in. The place is basically a huge pile of rock. Never been inside, but if you can get me in, I'll give you your body weight in gold."
Amanda's eyes went wide. "I take it the risk is high?"
"Very high, so bring your sword and a gun."
"Got any explosives?"
Eric nodded. "A crate full of dynamite and four pint bottles of nitroglycerine."
Amanda grinned. "You're serious about getting in. What's the security like there?"
"Besides a magic shield, I have no idea until we get there," Eric said truthfully.
Amanda snorted out a laugh. "Right, this is in that magic world you go to. Not using your demons?"
"One got in, she got chopped up. Whoever is in there knows lots of magic and is prepared to fight magic," Eric told her. "That's why I have to counter using no magic at all."
Amanda eyed him for a moment, then a grin spread across her face. "Sounds like a challenge. You're on, as long as I get my gold."
"Right after we're in and out. I'll give you the thirty pounds when you show me how to use that sword I got."
"I thought it was forty?"
"I told you thirty."
"Fine, thirty," Amanda said with a huff, then added, This will not count on my weight's worth?"
"Nope."
"When do we start?"
.
The next morning Eric heard a knock on his warehouse door. He slept the night here. Going to the door, he opened it. It was Amanda, now in a full black suit with metal strips on the sides and on the high collar.
Beaming him a smile, she asked, "Ready to begin?"
Eric got his sword. On the middle of the floor, Amanda pulled hers. She pointed it at him and said, "Remember, you can recover from anything except getting your head cut off, so guard it well. Keep your guard high. If your opponent stabs you low, swing hard immediately, if it's another immortal, take his head as fast as you can."
They spared, Eric keeping up with her snake like strikes to deflect her thrusts. It required both hands on his blade to move fast enough to keep up with her. He tried a thrust, she spun low and tapped the back of his knee.
"Be lighter on your feet," she scolded. "Stay on your toes. Flatfooted, you'll be slower."
She got up and they continued to spar. It was hard work keeping up with Amanda's speed.
"Fast thrusts! Go for disabling strikes, stop the overhead and long side swings!" Amanda coached as she parried his attempt.
By noon, Eric was feeling tired. They stopped for lunch. Eyeing the vault, Amanda asked, "Where's your gold?"
"In the bank," he replied and munched into his sandwich.
"Then what's the vault for?" she asked, waving an arm at it.
"Dangerous stuff, and no, I'm not going to tell you what's in there."
"Your demons?" she asked. Eric didn't reply.
Amanda rolled her eyes and asked, "So what's in this place you're trying to get into?"
Eric frowned. "Tanis, Elanza, Kitiara… they already killed my maid. I suppose just because they could. Got a feelin if I don't show, they will kill more until I go after them in blind vengeance."
"I see."
In the afternoon spar, Eric took all of Amanda's advice. He only thrust straight at her in stabs, real and fake to get her to swing. He stayed on his toes and found he moved much faster. Instead of just defending, he backed her across the floor. Amanda thrust at him, he paired her sword to one side, spun around and swing to stop just before his blade hit her neck.
Wide eyed, Amanda moved back. "Very good," she admitted, looking nervous.
Eric grinned. "So you ready to go raid a pile of rubble?"
.
Skie slept lightly now and then as she waited to see someone. It was seven days before anyone showed themselves.
The ones she saw didn't come from the fortress, but from the side. Eyeing them, she noted it was Eric with a large, heavy looking backpack, and Amanda, who wore a smaller backpack. They were circling the rubble like structure from a distance. When they circled around close to her, she called, "Eric, over here!"
Eric and Amanda turned. She got up and went over to them.
Eric eyed her, then asked, "Skie?"
"They have my Master. I can't get her out," Skie stated. "Magic doesn't work, and I can't dislodge those stones."
"Where's the entrance?" Eric asked.
Skie pointed. "See that rotting body? In that depression just beyond."
Eric clenched his jaw in anger. "They didn't even have the decency to bury her," he growled.
"No, they cut her up and left her to rot," Skie confirmed.
Amanda studied the place and said, "There are big spaces in between some of those stones. "I'm thinking the nitro and a few sticks in the entrance, then six stick bundles jammed into the rocks above. We set it off all at once, any guard inside won't be fit to stop anyone."
"Then just charge in?' Skie asked.
"Not unless your suicidal," Eric told her. He put his pack down and unstrapped the rifles and got out the dynamite. "Skie, can you help place these," he asked.
Skie nodded. "Tell me what to do."
"See those cracks above the entrance?" he began ….
.
Cyrus Grym checked on his prisoners. Opening the slot in the iron door, he noted every one of them was still tied in place. They were quiet, but awake. Their heads turned when he'd opened the slot.
"Don't worry, none of you are to die yet!" he called. Cackling, he shut the slot.
Walking back up the stairs, he figured this Eric was riding fast to get here. From Sanction, normal travel was twelve to fifteen days ride. If he didn't kill his horse to get here, possibly he'd be arriving tomorrow.
His God had answered his request and pulled Lord Soth from the Abyss and put the ghost knight under his command. Going up to where the ghost stood in containment, he offered a grin to the cursed soul.
"The famous Lord Soth!" he announced. "I have good use for you, and a reward if you serve me well."
The ghost nodded.
"There is a very troublesome man. When he comes, I want you to kill him. Do it however you want, make him piss in fear first if that pleases you. Just make sure he's dead. In exchange I will give you a new body for your soul, do you agree?"
The ghost knight clenched a fist and nodded.
"Very good," Cyrus smiled.
Then the room shook as a powerful blast rocked the entire keep making Cyrus stumble. The rumble of stone falling thundered in the air. Open faced, Cyrus wondered what that could be. Did a giant kick his keep? He yelled out, "Wizards, Orcs, find the source of that explosion and destroy it!"
.
Eric laid in the brush beside Skie, who was aiming the 30-30. He had the elephant gun. Right after the dynamite went off, and sent the whole front of the rubble pile blowing skyward, they tensed up. When the rain of rock settled back to the ground and nothing but stone dust was in the air, Amanda took off running. She became hard to see as the smoke settled. Eric did see her climb up and on the side of the large hole in the front that now showed the inside of the place. What they could see also had pieces of rubble on the floor.
"Remember, wizards first, then Orcs," Eric reminded Skie.
Studying the now larger entrance, Eric saw two robed figures approaching with Orcs in front of them. The figures were peeking out from behind the orcs.
"Wait," he cautioned.
The orcs bracketed the sides, the wizards came out to look at the damage.
"I take left you take right?" Skie asked.
"Sounds good, let me know when you're on target, then shoot." Eric said and took aim on the one on his right.
"On target," Skie said and shot. Eric shot at the same time. Both black clad figures fell. The one Eric shot flew backwards as he fell.
The orcs pointed and let out roar. The beasts charged,. More poured out of the rubble to come running at them as Eric and Skie cycled the next shell into the breech.
Another robed figure came out behind the orcs to stand up on a chunk of rubble. Skie shot him off it. Eric saw another keeping low. He shot the orc in front of it through the belly. The orc stumbled, the wizard flew back and laid still. He didn't see any more wizards. "OK, kill the orcs, then we move to the sides."
Firing, they downed the orcs one after another. Eric had to reload first. He got loaded and Skie ran out. He downed more orcs then heard Skie rack a new shell in. They killed every one coming at them. Eric counted fifteen orcs lying dead.
"Move!" Eric snapped. Skie crawled away to the left, he went right, belly crawling as fast as he could go to stay below the brush line. Shortly, a fireball erupted from where they had been. Eric lifted up enough to see the entrance. Three more wizards were standing outside the entrance. They way they were positioned, two in front, one behind in between, he was at the right angle to shoot the one in front. The bullet went through him to kill the one in the middle. The last one turned to face his direction. A shot rang out, the last wizard fell. Lightning crackled as he hit the ground. Eric moved closer to the entrance and more in front of it. He lifted up enough over the slight rise to aim.
No on else was coming out to get shot down. Above the entrance, Amanda was looking down into it.
Stones moved inside as orcs, staying low, built up a wall against the noises that were killing whoever went outside. Above them, Amanda took two sticks of dynamite out, lit them and waited until the fuses burned close, then dropped them down behind the wall with the orcs. She took cover in the rock above.
The orcs eyed the sparkling ends of the sticks, then the sticks blew up. A couple orcs flew up and over the barrier they made.
Eric jumped up and ran at the entrance. He dropped before the wall, made sure he was loaded, then peeked up to see who was on the other side.
"Master, what are you doing?"
Eric spun to see Tikiez standing over him. He reached up and pulled her prone. She laid next to him and snuggled up against him, wearing a confused look. "Now? Master you should finish the fight and retrieve my amulet back first!"
"Go find the captive and guard them," Eric told her firmly.
Tikiez nodded, She kissed him then disappeared. Right after she left, Saphrin and Lily appeared.
"How can we help?"
"Follow Tikiez, make sure no one harms the prisoners." They disappeared.
Next was Skie, who crawled up to peek over the wall. "We go in?" she asked.
Eric held up a finger. "This first." He pulled out the four sticks of dynamite he had. "There are three hallways, the one in front is empty. Throw your stick to the left down there, I throw to the right. Throw it as soon as I light them. Each holding a stick, Eric lit the fuses close. They jumped up, threw and ducked back down.
"Another one!" a man cried, then the sticks went off.
Eric and Skie jumped over the looked over their sights for anyone standing, then any wounded withering on the floor. Eric didn't see any movement. He slung his big rifle over his back and pulled his colt .44s. Feeling where Tikiez was, he moved down the center hallway. "Skie, guard the entrance," he called back.
"Yes, go get my master," she called back.
.
Cyrus was stunned and mortified. Whoever was breaking in had great power indeed! One of his wizards came back, stumbling into the room. "The attackers are using explosive magic our shield did not protect against! Many orcs are dead, the other seven wizards who were with me are dead. We must flee before we die too!"
Cyrus ginned. This was chaos in action, though he wasn't happy it was against him. "Go down to the prisoners and kill them. Then we will flee."
The mage nodded and ran on. Cyrus went to the containment room. He had the wizard there release the door to the room so Soth could leave. "Soth, now is the time, kill the infiltrators!"
.
By the time Lily and Saphrin got to the dungeon, Tikiz had already killed the guards and freed everyone. Tikiez went invisible and scouted ahead as they quietly left. Hearing someone come down the stairs, she floated up them to meet a wizard coming down. When he got close, she stabbed him in the chest with her long nails and appeared to grin at him.
"Wasn't expecting me, huh?" she asked with a grin to the man who was gaping at her.
She pulled her nails out, turned him to face the side and cut his throat deep. Planting him against the wall, she listened to him choke out his life, then dropped him. She moved on, searching for more to kill.
.
Eric heard talking on the room coming up. He heard the name Soth. Quickening his pace, he met Soth in the doorway. Soth stopped, Eric drove his knee into Soth's groin, knocking him back into the room. Seeing the ugliest, mutated man ever, Eric shot him, and the wizard standing by a pedestal with some kind of magic symbols on it. Turning back to Soth, he holstered his pistols and asked, "Well well, come back for more, you cowardly piece of shit?"
Soth tried to leave through the back wall, and bounced back into the room. Eric didn't know why Soth couldn't leave, but he did now one thing. Soth was his now.
Before Soth could recover, Eric kicked him back against the wall. Soth turned to receive a roundhouse punch that send him to the floor. Eric dove on him, to hold him in place.
"You … rotten…. piece…. of … shit!" Eric roared, punching Soth as hard as he could in between each word. Eric punched him with roundhouses, making Soth's head turn with each powerful hit. Eric then punched straight down on his face. After a few of these, Soth's face armor collapsed into his face. Soth flailed and tried to punch back, hitting Eric's arms. Eric barely noticed.
Eric went berserk on Soth. His fists were hurting, so he lifted Soth up and kneed him hard in his rage. Soth staggered back, Eric kicked him into a wall and charged to knee him in the gut.
Soth was limp. He only raised an arm to defend himself. Eric grabbed that arm and threw him to the floor then jumped on his back. Wrapping his hands under Soth's chin, he pulled back hard, trying to rip Soth's head off.
"Come on, you bastard, die for good!" Eric yelled, and pulled harder. He got a better grip with an arm under Soth and wrapped it around his neck. A knee on the middle of Soth's back, his other hand on the floor to help with leverage, and Eric pulled a his face reddened with effort.
Soth wailed out a ghostly cry. Eric felt something give. Soth's head came up a bit. Then a bit more. Eric recoiled as Soth's head came free and flew up to disappear. His body evaporated.
There was nothing under Eric now. He flopped down in exhaustion.
"Wow, that was impressive."
Eric looked up to see Amanda eyeing him from the doorway. He got to his feet and asked, "Any of them left?"
"If there are, they're hiding. Where's the demons?"
"Retrieving my people," Eric said. He came out of the room and leaned against the wall. Looking back in at Mr. Ugly lying on the floor dead, he said, "Think I did that guy a favor. I seen train wrecks that looked better."
"Can't argue that," Amanda agreed with a wince.
"Any dynamite left?"
Amanda shook her head. "We used it all."
"Damn. I was hoping to drop this place and bury this mess."
"MASTER!" Tikiez yelled and charged him.
Eric braced for an impact. Tikiez stopped grabbed his arm and tugged him towards the entrance. "Where are we going?" he asked being towed along.
"To get mine and Saphrin's amulets back!" she stayed.
Eric relented and let her tow him down the hallway. This was going to be a long walk.
