SILVERYMOON
Chapter 28
It was almost one month to the day. And here was Alexis, walking up the stairs. She knocked and waited.
Corimin's mother answered the door. "Alexis!?" She sounded happy to see her.
"Is Cor home?" She came to see him since he hadn't come to see her.
"He's in his bedroom sulking. Or is it moping?" His mother sighed. "Whatever it is, he isn't talking to us. Maybe you can snap him out of it."
"I can try." She didn't see why he should be in such a bad mood.
"We're looking forward to the wedding," his mother said. "Imagine getting wedding invitations. Real printed invitations." It was unheard of. At least she had never heard of it.
"Dad and Kate have been talking about nothing but for the last month. Even I want the wedding to be over," Alexis said, getting her to chuckle.
Alexis walked to his room, knocked softly, and then opened the door. Sure enough, Corimin was lying on his back on his bed, doing nothing. Alexis closed the door in case sex was called for. Though a blow job would be good. She could use the Cum. Real sex would be even better.
She sat on the edge of the bed. "What's wrong? Your mother says you're in a funk." Alexis thought about leaning down to kiss him, but she decided to sit there and see if she could get him to talk. "Come on, babe, talk to me." This time Alexis reached out to take his arm in her hand.
"I just…" Corimin shook his head and didn't look at her. "You wouldn't understand."
"I doubt that seriously. You're my boyfriend, and I love you. You can tell me anything," Alexis countered.
"We don't have enough gold." He had brought home a lot from his adventures with the Castles, but it wasn't enough.
"Enough? Enough for what?" Granted, after this last adventure, they hadn't come home with a lot of gold. Mostly, it was the single item they were each paid with for recovering those Intelligent Weapons. As far as she knew, no one had any plans to sell theirs. She certainly had no intention to sell hers.
"We want to move, but where I want us to move to, we can't afford." At least that was what his parents were telling him.
"Oh." Alexis wasn't sure how to fix that. Thanks to Kate, they still had a lot of gold. "You know, you can ask Kate to play that instrument and sing. It will make anything you buy perfect. I'm pretty sure she'll do it for free." Yes, their business at construction was doing better. Word of mouth was a bit slow in this City.
"It's not that so much as where. Apparently, where I want us to be is expensive," Corimin lamented.
"Well, we need more gold as well. Dad and Kate have this crazy plan to buy land outside the wall and build a Baseball Stadium. According to them, it needs to seat up to five thousand people, have restrooms, food stands, perfect grass, bats, gloves, and at least two teams.
"How they plan to sell tickets and keep everyone else out, I have no idea." Alexis thought they were biting off more than they could chew.
"Do you need me to make love to you?" Alexis grinned at him and trailed her finger across his chest.
"No…yes…no. Maybe I'm asking for too much." Corimin couldn't get his mind off of how much gold they needed.
"Come on, get up, babe. I'll take you out to eat. My treat." Alexis stood and offered her hand to help him up.
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Kate knew she would fail to keep Rick from seeing her in what she would wear as her wedding dress, so she didn't even try. She had, however, come home from seeing Jooge and getting her hair cut and all made up. Her head was full of curls now. Some makeup, her dress and shoes, and she was ready.
She wore the same dress she had worn for that Ball where they had rescued a rare Dragon Egg. After that, she still had no idea what had happened to that Egg. She chose not to worry about it.
The three of them took a carriage to the dock area where they would need to take a boat to reach the inn where they planned to get married.
Getting to the island meant a boat trip. Since this Realm didn't have motors, they got there using a boat with roarers. Six of them all told.
"WOW!" Kate liked what she saw when she entered the place. It was seriously expensive looking. Like all of Silverymoon, there were plants and flowers everywhere. Thanks to the flowers, this place had a sweet scent that was perhaps a little overwhelming.
Kate saw her friend and went up to her. "Eslor! I'm so glad you could make it."
"And miss your wedding? Never. I love your dress." It looked soft and sensual and flowed so gracefully on her body.
"Thank you." Then Kate saw someone she didn't expect to see. "…My Lady?" A little taken aback, Kate watched High Lady Alustriel Silverhand walk up to her.
"You are one of the loveliest brides I have ever seen," the Lady told her. "I have been looking forward to this wedding for weeks. After everything you have done for this city, how could I resist?"
"I am honored you could attend." Kate bowed a little and looked for Rick. She saw him talking to Mitala and whom she guessed was his wife. This would be a first for her. She had never met his wife. "Excuse me, my Lady, I see someone I must meet." Kate went toward Mitala's wife, who looked like an Elf to her.
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The marriage ceremony was a little different here than it was back home. Still, Rick and Kate made changes to it.
Rick had her ring and slid it back onto her finger, her magical Ring of Protection +3, and smiled since it was finally becoming more real.
Kate had a surprise for Rick. She had bought him a ring as well, an identical Ring of Protection +3. They had matching rings now.
Everything else was local, at least until they were declared married and they kissed. Once the bridal couple reached this section, Alexis was ready and threw dried rice at them while everyone in attendance clapped.
It wasn't the biggest of weddings, but Kate liked small intimate weddings anyway. Plus, the Lady was in attendance. She was betting very few had the privilege of saying that.
The food was extraordinary, and while Rick wouldn't tell her how much it cost, Kate was happy with that. It was her one and only wedding, after all.
There was no wedding cake, no music, so there was no dancing. But Kate did get to speak in-depth with everyone after the wedding, including the Lady herself.
Rick and Kate also met and spent real time with Corimin's parents.
While there, Rick and Kate learned that Corimin had ideas about where he wanted his parents to move, though where he wanted, for more than one reason, cost too much. He wasn't asking for money, but if Rick and Kate had ideas, he was willing to listen.
That got all of them over to Mitala, who had yet to leave with his wife. They were still eating.
"I know of nothing at this time. But, if I hear of anything, I will keep you in mind." It was the best Mitala could offer.
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Alexis went home with Corimin with the intention to have sex in his bedroom. She needed his Cum to live, and he was more than willing to provide it.
"You think you can take this dress off of me? Husband." Kate loved that word. She was married, and she had a husband.
"Can I use scissors?" Rick teased and got hit in the arm for it.
"No, and you better stop being a jackass, or we're going to be divorced," Kate cautioned him.
"Am I sleeping on the sofa tonight?" Rick knew she had threatened that more than once.
"That depends. How many orgasms am I going to have tonight?" Kate smiled at him and lifted up on her toes to kiss him. Their first night as husband and wife was going to be full of sex. The most incredible sex an Incubus could give his wife.
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A few weeks later, Kate was home from her training class. She was actually feeling like she was getting somewhere. Her shooting with her bow and arrow set was getting better.
But she didn't see anyone, and no one was cooking, not that she was hungry or could eat it anyway, so she went downstairs. Down there, she found everyone, including Corimin.
Rick was printing, and Corimin was helping him. Alexis was missing, but that was because they had a customer. "Mops, how are you?" Kate bent down to kiss her head. She was still such a sweet kid.
Mops beamed at her. "I am good, Miss Kate."
Kate corrected her gently. "Technically, that's Mrs. Kate now, Mops. I'm married."
"Sorry." She was so used to calling her Miss Kate that it slipped out. "I will do better."
"You could call me Kate. I don't mind. How is your father?" She hadn't seen him in days, not since her latest free haircut for life.
"Dad is busy. Everyone wants color on their hair." She didn't understand why but it made her dad happy, so she was too.
"Is that why I've been seeing people with colored hair?" Kate had begun to notice. "Well, so long as he's busy and happy."
Alexis came back. "We've got a message." The redhead handed over a piece of paper with a seal in wax on it, keeping it closed.
"Oh?" Kate took it, broke the seal, and read it. Immediately she walked over to join her husband and Corimin, with Alexis right behind her. "We've been asked to attend a meeting in the Palace after lunch tomorrow. Can you three make that?" Corimin was done with training and had even learned new spells after their last adventure.
"I only have a teaching class in the morning, so I'm free," Alexis said.
"I have a training class in the morning as well. I should be free though I may have to meet you there," Rick told them.
"I'm free. My parents haven't decided where they want to move to yet. My idea has died. I was hoping, but it's okay." Corimin shrugged. It was what it was.
"Sounds like we have a meeting. I wonder what's gone wrong this time." Kate hadn't heard of anything.
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As warned, they watched Rick running to meet them. He was a little out of breath, but he was fine.
They had to wait for the guards to escort them to a waiting room and then other guards to take them to a room they all knew well. They walked in and found only Mitala waiting for them.
Kate greeted Mitala, sat down, and waited for him to tell them why they were needed this time.
"I am glad you could all make it. You asked if we knew of something that might provide you with extra gold. This expedition is not something you are required to do. In fact, it doesn't concern Silverymoon or even Waterdeep in any way," Mitala began to tell them.
"Interesting." Kate didn't mind making more gold. They still had plans for a Baseball stadium. Naturally, Kate planned to use the magical instrument and sing to build it no matter how many times it took to finish it. It was what came after that was giving them all pause.
"So what is it, and where are we going?" Rick inquired.
That had Mitala pulling out a map to unroll it and lay it on the table. "This, as you know, is the Desert of Anauroch. The area here in the Desert is a mountain range called Scimitar Spires, that is in the Empire of Shadows. It surrounds a large lake that, to our knowledge, has never gone dry, even if it is in a desert.
"The lake is called Shadow Sea," Mitala told them and pointed out both locations.
"I'm detecting a theme here," Rick commented.
"Indeed. The mountain range and the lake are just south of The Black Road. This road is the major thoroughfare caravans use to cross the Desert. From Dagger Falls to Llorkh." Mitala indicated each site.
"Somewhere in these mountains is a place that might interest you. However, we don't know where exactly within this Mountain it is located. As to what this place is…" That was where it was going to get dangerous.
"Under a lost and lonely hill lies the sinister Tomb of Horrors, a labyrinthine crypt full of terrible traps and strange and ferocious monsters. Rich and magical treasures, and somewhere inside rests the Demilich," Mitala told them grimly.
"Demilich? Is that what I think it is?" Alexis asked him.
"Your last adventure was to recover those weapons supposedly stolen by a Lich. This one is many times worse than a simple Lich. Ancient and powerful is a Demilich. He didn't even start as a Human or any other race, purportedly. He is said to be a true Demon, unlike yourselves. Though full of magic and natural abilities, much like you.
"His name is Acererak. Now, rumor has it his Tomb is full of treasure and magical items. You can rest assured that the entire place is full of mundane and magical traps and more than likely also with Undead, and yes, it will be underground, hidden in a hillside somewhere.
"You wanted access to gold; this could be the place. ...If you live to come back. I've come to care about you four greatly, so I suggest you recruit other people to go with you.
"This time, the City will not provide you with horses or a feed bag. This venture is strictly on your own. Leave when you are ready. Though, I ask that you send me a message that you are actually going through with this. Allow me the opportunity to pray to my God for your success," Mitala asked of them earnestly. "The map is yours to keep."
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Mitala had told them all that he knew. Finally, they were back home at the Castle place, which included Corimin since they needed to talk about this.
"How far is it, Husband?" It was her new favorite word, so Kate had planned to use it a lot.
"Wow." Rick looked the map over. "If we go from here to the abandoned city of Ascor, that alone is at least five days easy, if not six. Add another two full days if we go to the Citadel first. After that, it'll be all Desert with nothing between the two. So, say eight, maybe nine days just to reach the City of Shade, if that's where we want to go.
"The same to reach the northernmost section of the West Mountain range here." Rick touched a spot on the map. "We need to carry much more hay, food, and water. Or go purchase camels instead of horses."
"I'm thinking we need help," Alexis suggested.
"I thought that as well. Three to four days to Mithral Hall to ask Ghared if she's interested in joining us. When we come back, we can talk with Eslor. We might need a Cleric this time. After that, I think going to the Citadel and attempting to talk Fiona into coming with us would be a good idea.
"Get horses for the trip to Mithral Hall and switch to camels when we get back here. I hate to spend the money, but we'll need another feedbag if there's one that fits a camel," Kate said. "After that item, we can talk."
"Any chance a couple of Dwarves might be interested in coming with us?" Rick queried. "We did save that Citadel, and he was grateful for the help."
Kate shook her head. "Doubtful, but we can ask. It's a long way. A week to here and over a week to here. In addition, time going to Ghared. Then time spent there, turning around and coming back. With no guarantee that we'll find any gold at all." Every bit of this was a risk, and Kate could see it.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and run across our friendly Brass Dragon," Alexis said hopefully.
"It's more likely that we'll run across that Blue Dragon he talked about," Corimin told her.
Alexis sighed. "Yeah, that sounds like our luck." She could see it happening.
"No matter who comes with us, you two will need Cum, and I'll need to bite someone." Kate saw another problem. "I'm almost certain I can't bite Undead to get the blood I need to live."
"One tent with eight cots. But didn't Ghared have that little tent? She could bring that." Alexis thought it might be the sex-and-biting-Dad-for-blood tent.
"So when do we leave?" Corimin was in. It was his idea to search for more Gold so they could buy the place he really wanted to live in.
Corimin made up his mind, he was in. It was his idea to search for more gold so they could buy the place where he desperately wanted to live. "So when do we leave?"
"We'll leave as soon as we can, Corimin. But first, we plan, and tomorrow, we'll go shopping. Get horses and an extra feed bag, then find out if we can get our hands on seven camels or maybe eight. An extra one for the Dragon to eat as payment for coming with us. That's assuming we can find him," Kate told him tiredly. It was already a very long day.
"And we use the eighth camel to carry everything we're willing to load on him. Hay, extra water, and whatever," Alexis mentioned, taking care of that problem.
"Three weeks," Rick said since it was a nice round number.
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In the end, they bought a few items, including horses. They didn't know what to do with them when they came back but found they could trade them in for camels.
Kate and Alexis also talked to Eslor. They told her they would be back in about ten days, so she didn't have to give them her answer right this minute. And that she should think it over first.
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Four uneventful days later, they were sitting in the only inn they were allowed in, eating and drinking while waiting for Ghared. The guard told them someone would find her and send her to the inn.
Then, Ghared walked in and saw him. "Castle!" This time she was wearing clothes, not armor. She didn't even have a weapon.
"We're married even." Kate held up her hand with her ring to prove it, even if she had been wearing it the last time they met.
"Congratulations! I actually did receive your invitation, but I couldn't make it. I trust it was lovely?" Ghared asked them.
Kate positively glowed. "It was perfect."
"You should have seen her dress," Alexis added. Yes, she had seen it before, but not during a wedding. It made Kate even more lovely.
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Ghared had sat with them, listened to their plan, and even looked at the map Rick had brought with him.
"We're hoping to add Eslor, who is a Cleric of Pelor, in addition to Fiona, who is a Druid. She has a wolf for a familiar. Eslor is in Silverymoon while Fiona is at the Citadel Adbar working with the Dwarves," Kate told her.
"We have room for eight in our tent. So the four of us, you, Eslor, and Fiona make seven. We have room for one more person. We were hoping a Dwarf might be interested in joining us. From here, perhaps, or the Citadel," Alexis explained.
"A mountain range in the middle of the Desert of Anaoroch that is over two weeks from here, and you don't even know where in this enormous Mountain range it might be located."
Ghared finished summing it up, "A Tomb filled with Undead and perhaps something worse than a simple Lich."
"Well, when you make it sound like that." Rick thought it finally sounded extremely bad.
Ghared briefly studied each of them and said, "All right then. Let me find and talk to Durgeddin; he may be interested. He has been working on a new weapon that is some big secret since last we met. He won't even let me see it."
"So, you mean to say you're coming with us?" Kate was a bit shocked. She didn't have to say yes immediately. She could think it over, sleep on it. Even to Kate, this sounded very dangerous.
"Of course. How can I say no?" Ghared asked them. "Truth be told, it has been boring since I came home. Durgeddin won't let me help him, and I find I am restless." Ghared saw them all smiling at her decision.
"Let me find Durgeddin, and we will meet you here first thing in the morning. Do we need horses?" Ghared queried.
"We have eight camels on order in Silverymoon, so yes, right now you need horses or camels for the desert," Kate told her.
"We can get horses and change to camels in Sundabar. They will have more than enough camels. Equal shares like last time?" Ghared wanted something out of this.
"Equal shares just like last time," Kate replied. "Split up the coins and anything else we find. We promise," Kate said, and she saw everyone else nodding their heads.
"We will come and find you in the morning. Thank you for thinking of me." Ghared thought they had arrived just in time. "Perhaps a second big tent? I like my tent, but it may not have been the most thoughtful purchase." She was thinking of selling it before they left tomorrow.
"Keep in mind that we'll be in a desert for a long time, so bring all the water and food you think you can carry. And purchase what we need in Sundabar," Alexis reminded her.
"We will be ready." Ghared knew she would be ready. She still had to find Durgeddin and talk him into coming with them.