Death to the High Lords 10:
Rogues' Gambit
Asmodeus watched with satisfaction as a pair of Rogues emerged from the portal, climbing out the pit on the crystal pillars. He was hoping that they would be attracted to the dungeon by the building of the casino. The first part of his plan had paid off.
He knew that thieves served the Lords of the lands above. Rogues were as close to thieves as any in the underworld, and they were brilliant at disguising themselves in the guise of the enemy. Perhaps these two, when trained enough, would be able to penetrate the enemy camp at Honeydew Falls, the next town on Flamuli's list. Subversion was the key to taking that realm, it being heavily guarded and his master's forces not nearly strong enough to tackle the army that awaited them there. He doubted that Zalador and his brothers would help them a second time.
He joined Brachus in his study and they both looked into Asmodeus' scrying ball, and saw that Lord Fortisque was preparing his forces already. Both Mentors frowned deeply. That meant that there was a spy in their midst, and they would have to do their best to flush them out.
Several hours later, after the two Rogues, Dappa and Kepple, had completed their training with great rapidity, Asmodeus called them to his study and outlined what they had to do.
"It will involve going into the land above, I'm afraid," explained Asmodeus, "So your usual penchant for dark work will be null and void."
Dappa and Kepple looked vaguely disappointed.
"Find the location of the Lord of this land and bring the information back to us. Try and blend into his forces as well as possible. Understood?"
The laconic Rogues nodded. They adjusted their masks and sheathed their daggers, moving off in the direction of the new tunnel that the imps were carving towards the land above.
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"This is inexcusable!" complained Dappa as he emerged from the hole in the ground, followed closely by his associate. Kepple brushed the dirt from his tunics and looked down to find the Imps were already pulling the dirt in after themselves as they made their way back down.
"Why?" asked Kepple after a careful inspection of his clothing. He kicked another clod of earth of his black leather boots.
"Because this is not what we're here for! Our trade does not involve spying!"
"But is does involve stealth and cunning, traits I believe a spy should cherish."
Dappa grumbled his agreement and touched the side of his mask. Kepple did the same and they both closed their eyes. The masks disappeared into their flesh, sinking in around their eyes. Their tunics changed from leather to cotton and silk, arrayed in bright colours to fit in with the locals. Their boots remained the same, their daggers hidden inside them, and they made their way along the road that ran alongside the forest that they had emerged in.
"Adequate?" said Kepple.
"We might as well be twins," said Dappa. "I'm not going to enjoy this one bit."
"We're not meant to enjoy it. We're meant to find Lord Fortisque and tell the Master. We'll have to blend in whether we like it or not."
Dappa nodded. They could see the town ahead and they wondered what sort of welcome they were going to receive there.
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Unknown to the two cut-throats, Lord Fortisque was receiving Avatar Brandicor in his fort on the outskirts of the town. Only Melkum joined the Avatar on his visit. There were mutterings around the court as Brandicor entered. Grell was conspicuous by his absence.
"Highness," said Lord Fortisque with a great deal of fawning.
"Fortisque," Brandicor responded, pointedly leaving out the man's title. Fortisque's face twitched with annoyance briefly before engaging an entirely false smile of welcome.
"What brings you to these parts, Highness?"
"To put it bluntly, you're next."
Fortisque blanched at Brandicor's use of words. "Highness?"
"Flamuli has crushed Smilesville. Honeydew Falls is next on his list, and his forces are mobilising as we speak."
Fortisque grew visibly paler. "You can't be serious! You told me that we would be safe from the incursions of the Keepers."
"Keeper. Calisto is no more. I have it on good authority that her Heart was destroyed even though Smilesville's forces did not succeed."
"Even so, Flamuli has been around since the days of your predecessor. He won't go down without a fight."
"I know. That's why I'm here. To put a stop to him once and for all."
"I'm grateful for your concern, Highness. But Flamuli is older than this town. It would be best just to evacuate."
Brandicor suddenly exploded with rage and struck Fortisque with his gauntleted fist. A gasp went through the assembled court. "Evacuate! Such defeatist talk is not worthy of someone of your rank!"
Fortisque staunched the flow of blood from the cut on his cheek, his eyes full of fear. "I beg your forgiveness, Highness," he muttered humbly.
Brandicor stopped hovering over Fortisque who was trembling so much that his armour was rattling. "You are forgiven, Lord Fortisque. However, I must insist that you move against this upstart Keeper soon. And unfortunately, it will be without my support. I have more pressing matters at the rebuilding of Skybird Trill. Farewell. Melkum!" The Avatar called to his Wizard as though he were some sort of pet. Melkum responded as such with a meekness that shocked everyone that knew him.
Amongst the crowd of the court, amongst the sea of shocked and terrified faces, Dappa and Kepple watched the scene with a great deal of interest.
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As Dappa and Kepple walked away from the town, they could hardly believe the ease with which they had accomplished their mission. As they returned to the spot where they had emerged from the Underworld, however, they saw no sign of an Imp or hole waiting for them anywhere.
"Oh, no!" cried Dappa, "I told you! They're going to leave us stranded out here!"
Suddenly, a deep voice cried out, "What are you two doing here?"
Dappa and Kepple started and turned to see a Knight on horseback with a retinue of several guards, half a dozen Giants, four Dwarfs, and a troop of twenty Sylvan Elves, all of them armed to the teeth. "Waiting for you," Kepple said quickly.
"Well, come on then! Get in line!"
"Yes, sir," said both Rogues, snapping a smart salute.
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They soon arrived once more at Lord Fortisque's fort, making their way through several torchlit corridors. They entered a room that was being tended by four Wizards, all of whom were preparing two Hero gates.
"Well, this is one way back," whispered Dappa.
"Not exactly what we had in mind," replied Kepple.
One of the Elves tapped them on the shoulder. "What was that?" asked the sharp-eared Archer.
"Nothing," lied Dappa unconvincingly.
Kepple was a little more succinct. He pulled his dagger out from his boot and stabbed the Elf in the throat. The Archer collapsed in a pool of blood. The others were too shocked to react at first, and Kepple used the opportunity to grab Dappa's arm and run for the Hero gate.
"Get them!" screamed the Knight. Two Wizards were cut down before they could get a spell together, and the two Rogues leapt into the Hero gate, disappearing in a flash of light just as several arrows clattered against the wall behind the spot where they had been standing moments earlier.
They emerged out the other side to find a small chamber with no passageways. They looked at each other in despair. "We're dead," said Dappa.
The light filled the Hero gate and the Knight started emerging. He raised his sword, ready to strike them down.
Then, the wall caved in behind Dappa and Kepple, and two Imps fell forwards into the chamber, followed closely by Jella and her friends. Lightning bolts played over the surface of the Knight's armour, making him jiggle around on the spot as the power coursed through him. He collapsed, little wisps of smoke drifting out of the gaps in his armour and faceplate.
Then the rest arrived.
Jella, the other Mistresses, and the two Rogues felt themselves being spirited away back to the main complex.
"Prepare, my children," said the familiar voice of Flamuli through the corridors, "The people of Honeydew Falls are upon us!"
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