SILVERYMOON
Chapter 30
It was later the following day, and even though it wasn't dark, they had agreed on a place to camp overnight. So the tent was up, and everyone had dropped their backpacks inside it. Now everybody was outside, looking the area over.
There was actually a touch of brush here though it was brown. Fiona had explained the plants weren't truly dead, that they were able to thrive on what little water was available here. It didn't mean there was an oasis close by somewhere.
"We have no idea where the Brass Dragon took us to reach that oasis he took us to." Rick still felt totally lost out here. They needed someone with at least some experience here to keep them from getting lost.
Durgeddin walked over to Alexis. "It will be nice soon." It had been terribly hot all day. Soon the temperature would start to go down, making it comfortable for a short time. "Water?" He held his waterskin out for her to take. But she didn't. "Alexis?" Finally, he looked at her and was almost sure she was standing there, frozen like a statue. "Are you all right?" Durgeddin waved his hand in front of her face and got no reaction.
"SPELL!" Now he hefted his double-bladed Axe, ready to cut everyone in half. A moment later, he saw them as they stumbled their way over a rise. "ALARM!"Durgeddin shouted, hoping for help. He got it too. Night was first, followed by Fiona and then Eslor.
"MUMMIES!" Eslor recognized them right off. "Vulnerable to fire. Not easy to turn." She got her Symbol of Pelor ready to use.
Kate showed up and looked. "What do you…" Then she ceased moving and talking. Rick was right behind her; a moment later, he did the same thing.
"What's wrong?" Fiona didn't get it and looked down at Night. He was standing still, not moving at all. She knew her wolf should at least be growling an alarm of danger, but he wasn't.
Eslor knew what was wrong. "Fear. Just seeing them causes it. We might be on our own this time." She was betting that when Corimin showed up, he, too, would freeze from fear.
"No time like the present then." Durgeddin charged the one on the far right to cut it to pieces.
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The fight was over. Rick, Kate, Alexis, Corimin, and even Night stood there in abject fear of what they had seen.
"Did one touch you?" Eslor was looking Durgeddin over since he was rubbing his arm. She pulled his tunic sleeve back to expose it. "Mummy Rot. You'll be dead in hours and then Undead for life. Come with me right now. I need what's in my backpack." Eslor took Durgeddin to the tent.
She cut his shirt off and folded it, careful not to touch what had been in contact with his arm. "Burn those things, and we need to move our camp," Eslor told Fiona and Ghared.
Durgeddin was gritting his teeth and refused to admit that what it was doing hurt like hell. "What…..you...do-in?" He couldn't speak in a complete sentence.
"I don't have this spell memorized. I didn't think I needed it out here in the Desert. I will fix that in the morning. I need a scroll." Eslor kept searching. "This one!" The scroll had more than one spell on it. Thankfully it had the spell she needed.
"Remove Curse. Mummy Rot is not a disease despite how it appears. Hurts like hell, doesn't it?" Eslor asked him.
"No," Durgeddin said through clenched teeth.
"Just let me finish." Eslor read the spell from her scroll and watched each word fade as she said it. When she finished, it was gone, vanished from her scroll. And the Mummy Rot was just as gone. Now she needed to cast a couple of Cure Light Wounds to take care of the damage the Rot had caused.
"You should be good as new." Eslor looked his arm over thoroughly, and Durgeddin rubbed the spot with his hand.
"Thanks." He wasn't looking forward to being an Undead. "We need to move." His mind was focused back on the problem with this location.
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"So what happened?" Alexis asked since she knew she had spotted something but didn't remember anything after that.
"Mummies cause paralyzing fear when you even see one if you can't resist it. Their touch causes Mummy Rot. It's very painful, and it kills you. Once you are dead, you are an Undead. They are susceptible to fire," Eslor explained once they had moved and set up the tent elsewhere.
"And we have all the Wands of Fireball." Kate shook her head. She hadn't really thought that was a weakness. They even had more than one.
Durgeddin didn't care. "Not my concern. My question is how did four Mummies find us? How did they know where we were? Hell, how did those Rot Trolls know where we were? They surrounded us. The Trolls I know about are brain-dead beasts. Undead are even worse. So how?" Durgeddin raised his head and looked from person to person.
"My Goggles allow me to spot things," Alexis mentioned. She had been wearing them when she had frozen in place.
"How do you hide in a Desert with no trees and barely any brush? Sand hills, I understand," Kate said, "but not that."
"Well, a movie I watched once had them burying themselves in the sand," Rick said. "And once everyone was in position, they jumped up and began shooting."
Kate pointed out a flaw in his thinking. "No guns, babe."
"They would still have to know right where we are, Dad, so they have time to dig. What if we didn't go in the right direction?" Alexis countered.
"Scrying would do it," Fiona offered. "If I had a natural body of water, I could do it. I only need a name."
Eslor spoke up. "I can as well, but I need a Crystal Ball to cast the spell. It doesn't even need to be a magical one."
"We had four of them once. We sold them in Silverymoon immediately after we spotted an Ancient Colossal Red Dragon." Kate shuddered slightly at the memory. "That scared the shit out of us."
"Ancient Red Dragon?" Ghared looked at her Mentor Durgeddin for his thoughts.
"Incredibly Powerful!" Durgeddin even thought about that. "But access to Undead? This many Undead?" Durgeddin shook his head. "Fiona, how long can they watch us?"
"Ten minutes per spell. If it is a Druid or even a Cleric, and they only have the one spell at that level, they need 24 hours to cast it again. All they need is a name," Fiona replied.
"A name." Durgeddin thought about that. "Why follow me? The Orcs killed me."
"It's not you." Kate had a good idea who they were following and looked at Rick.
"Us." Rick was following her thinking, like always. "Me, to be specific."
"What's so special about you?" Fiona didn't understand.
It was time to tell them. Kate took a deep breath. "We're not from this Realm. Rick and Alexis are Demons, and I'm a Vampire. But not Demons or Vampire like you know them," she hurried to say. "We're different. Someone brought us here, and we woke up in a Drow prison. We escaped."
That had everyone silent and thinking. "Kidnapped and sent to a Realm of which you knew nothing. No matter how old and powerful, Dragons don't have that kind of power," Durgeddin said.
Eslor looked at him thoughtfully."No, but a God does." So far as she knew, only a being like that had that kind of power. That had everyone looking at her. "Pelor is a Major God, as are others that I don't follow. Then there are Lesser Gods, mostly because fewer people follow them. But not because they are less powerful. And there are Demi-Gods. While still Gods, they are far less powerful with far few followers."
"So the questions remain. Who and why? And why now? How long have you been here in this Realm?" Durgeddin questioned them.
"Almost two full years, we think," Kate replied. "It's hard to judge time when you're underground. Plus, how long were we asleep? We found ourselves captured, not being captured."2
"If it actually is these three," Eslor broke in, "what makes them so special? Why kidnap them?"
"We're different." It was all Alexis had.
"Whatever the reason, we need to stay very alert. We can expect more visitors. The only question is, for how long?" Durgeddin didn't care why. They had to react and be ready for more.
Alexis looked at her dad and Kate. "So why now?"
"We've been here almost two years, and we've been outside Silverymoon many times. What makes this trip so special?" Kate didn't see a connection.
"Who did we piss off?" Rick wondered. "Orcs? Whoever tried to steal that Egg? Maybe it really is Durgeddin." Rick looked at him. "You have great skill, do you not?"
"I'd kill myself first before I built weapons for them," Durgeddin said hotly.
"It could be payback for taking those weapons back, perhaps," Alexis put forward.
They didn't have an answer, but they still took turns all night long while Patches and Night helped as best they could.
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Eslor was sitting down, making herself ready to pray for the spells she wanted. However, Fiona stopped her. "Rot Trolls failed. Mummies failed. What's next? What spell don't you have on scrolls that you could have personally? Mine are limited, but I have plans. Provided that they stay with Undead and don't send something like a Dragon."
"I will prepare for that. Thank you." Eslor hadn't really thought about it. So she started praying for her spells for the day as Fiona stepped away and sat down to do the same.
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The day was uneventful for the point in time when they spotted the mountain range and turned south with Fiona still out in front with Night.
There were no enemies, no friendlies, and no oases in sight. Rick, Kate, Alexis, Corimin, and even Ghared knew that somewhere there was one out there, but they didn't spot it.
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That night, Rick came up to Kate and noticed Patches. The Ember Cat never slept, so he was always on watch. "I'm here to relieve you. Spot anything?" He knew if she had, she would have said something and alerted all of them.
"All's quiet so far. Patches is awake, and I think even Night is as well. Though I'm thinking he is taking cat naps," Kate joked with him. "Just don't tell him I said that." Rick really was rubbing off on her.
"It never occurred to me." Rick moved in and slipped his arms around her from behind. He felt her relax and even lean into him a little.
"Do you need my Cum?" Kate was well aware of what Rick and even Alexis needed to live.
"I'm good for a bit yet." He nibbled her ear. "I was thinking of using Ghared's little tent. While I may not need you, I want you." They hadn't had sex since they left Silverymoon. "You need to bite me?"
Kate knew just what he was asking. Given what Rick could do to her body, she knew she wanted him almost as much, if not more. "Yes, I need to bite you. Now or tomorrow night." His Demon blood was just what she needed.
"Now works for me." Rick nuzzled her neck, then spun her and opened his shirt, sliding it off so she could bite him on his shoulder like always.
Kate still had a bit of an issue about biting him to get the blood she needed to live. He was her husband now; she really shouldn't be biting him. He was…special.
Still, Kate bit him and felt him flinch like he always did, but that went away quickly. All she drank was what she needed and then licked the wound clean. She followed that by searching her mouth for every last drop.
"Thanks, babe."
"It's what husbands are for. Now go and get some sleep. I'm awake," Rick assured her.
"Keep your eyes open. Someone knows we're out here. How and why might still be a mystery, but it does make sense." Kate kissed him quickly and hurried toward the tent. However, she came back and gave him Alexis's Goggles to use.
Rick put them on and scanned the entire area. "Looks like it's just you and me, Patches." Rick glanced down at him only to see he was gone. However, spotting a cat that was on fire wasn't all that hard to do. Rick didn't plan to circle the camp, but apparently, Patches did.
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By lunch the next day, the mountain range was behind them and was barely visible through the waves of heat coming off the sand.
They still had plenty of water and lots of food. "I take it back. I'd rather eat an MRE. What are these things called again?" Rick was learning to hate whatever they were.
Ghared spoke up first. "They are called Trail Rations. Everything a person needs when you can hunt for food and grow food. Eslor can make food, but it would be the same as these."
"How do you get so big eating food of this kind?" Alexis queried and took another bite. She wasn't a fan either, but it beat starving to death. However, now she heard her dad laughing while Kate chuckled.
Rick kept on complaining about the food. "Did we bring that spice cup from home? Maybe some hot sauce for my cardboard."
"Cardboard?" Fiona asked. "OHHH, you mean scroll paper. Very funny." She took another bite of hers. "At least it does not suck all the moisture out of your mouth." She gave another piece to her beloved familiar since it was all they had now. Their Fresh Bags were empty, and they had nothing to fill them with again.
Fiona gave half of the water she was to drink to Night, too. She thought he had to be suffering in this heat even if he wasn't complaining. She noticed he drank every last drop of it, though.
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Fiona and Night were back out front, while this time, Kate and Alexis were bringing up the rear pulling their supply camels behind them. "You're too quiet," Alexis chided. "You're thinking again."
"It's a failing of mine," Kate admitted. "I know Castle was only complaining. It isn't getting to me, promise. But where the hell are all these Undead coming from? This is a Desert, and it's a hot one. Who lives out here to end up dead and then Undead?"
"I'm more into I don't have much sunscreen left. What passes for sunscreen in this Realm, that is. I'm going to bake to a crisp out here," Alexis complained. Actually, she looked more and more Middle Eastern all the time. You couldn't see her hair or face. Her hands were hidden by billowing sleeves. And even Kate was beginning to catch on.
"One more reason to prove that I'm not an Undead Vampire. According to what I've learned, if I was one, I wouldn't last a minute out here under this sun." Kate was baking just like all the others. "How are you feeling? I bit Castle last night."
"Fine for now. I need to give Cor a blowjob soon, or better yet, have sex. God, what I wouldn't give to have some fresh Cum inside me right now," Alexis complained. It was this heat. Screw Rings of Warmth. They needed Rings of Cold.
"Maybe Ghared's little tent tonight. I suggested it to Castle." Kate sighed. "I'm not sure if he's trying to tough it out or just being stubborn."
"Dad!? Neither. Dad is all city, just like I am. This being out in the countryside or worse, and this place? This place isn't us. His idea of toughing it is takeout," Alexis told her. At which point, Kate chuckled since she knew Alexis was right.
"Camping? We used hotel rooms. Maybe an RV if we had one. Take the shovel, dig a hole to do my business, and then cover it up again? I get it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it," Alexis told her.
"Being a Vampire may have its drawbacks, but that isn't one I miss. I don't eat or drink anything except blood, so there's nothing to get rid of. I do kinda miss eating. I used to love Chinese," Kate said wistfully. If Alexis didn't already know.
"How about getting pregnant?" Alexis wasn't overly sure she could get pregnant herself. Demons in this Realm, probably. Demons from her Realm? She just didn't know.
That had Kate placing a hand on her belly while she rode her camel. She didn't have periods anymore. Vampires used the blood they got differently. "I. Don't. Know." Kate knew that they had sex often enough for her to get pregnant. If she could get pregnant. It had been close to two years here, and she wasn't yet. Maybe she couldn't.
"I don't have periods either. I don't waste the blood I have like that." Suddenly being a Vampire when she couldn't give the man she loved children was starting to suck.
"Maybe it's just harder for a Vampire," Alexis said quietly.
"Maybe." Kate wasn't so sure, though.
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They were still a few days away from the northernmost tip of the mountain range they wanted to reach. And just two days from The Black Road, which was the Caravan Road from east to west.
Alexis had first watch and was with Patches. Alexis couldn't just stand there, so she was slowly walking around. It was easier on her feet.
"MEOW!"
"Where?" Alexis looked down at Patches then she looked in the same direction he was. She raised her Goggles. Sure enough, she could make out several shapes headed this way in the dark. This time they weren't walking like the Mummies had been. Whatever they were, they were at a dead run.
"Go wake everyone, Patches. NOW!" Alexis didn't look to make sure Patches did as she told him. She had faith that he would. However, Alexis didn't have time to wait for help. So she pulled out her Wand of Fireball and fired one.
Now a Fireball isn't what you might think. It left the Wand as a tiny red ball and traveled a certain distance. If it hit something, only then would it explode. That or it reached the distance requested based on the activation word you used. It wasn't this big ball of fire flying across the ground.
Kate and Fiona were first out of the tent and watched as a Fireball erupted in the desert. It told them that whatever it was, it was already too close for comfort. Fiona had her Staff while Kate had her Wand and her dagger. As they ran toward Alexis, she fired another little red ball.
"What?" Kate questioned her.
"Don't know, but I don't like it. There's twenty, maybe thirty of them. That way." Alexis pointed her Wand, and that had both of them looking. Sure enough, even they could spot them by now. Kate raised her Wand and fired a little red ball.
They weren't killing them fast enough. They were going to reach them, so Fiona raised her Staff and expended a charge. Instantly a wall of thorns erupted out of the desert on their flank side, and they ran straight into it. Yet no one screamed from the pain.
A small red ball blasted past the three of them, and a moment later, a much more powerful Fireball erupted that was close enough that the three of them could feel the heat from it. Then a large Hammer flew past their heads to hit one of them before coming back.
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"Ugly!" Alexis grimaced as they looked over one of the dead bodies. Its hands were clawlike and its claws were sharp, while its face was long and full of dagger-like discolored teeth. Its skin was covered in sores that oozed nauseating pus and then scabbed over.
"They're Ghouls," Eslor stated. "Another Undead. Just one touch can paralyze you in place. Then they eat you."
"Why does everything want to eat us?" Rick lamented. First, it was brains, and now whatever these things wanted to eat.
"They rip your belly open and eat you alive. You feel the pain, but because of the paralysis, you can't scream or stop them," Eslor added.
"I really don't think I needed to know that," Alexis told her. She didn't want to die but dying like that was out.
"Whoever it is, they are still interested in us," Durgeddin noted as he looked one over a bit closer. "It's just that Ghouls eat you, so what has changed? First, I was thinking capture, but these things kill."
"Getting desperate, perhaps?" Eslor suggested.
"Perhaps. That or something else. Maybe they didn't follow orders this time," Kate said.
"Desperate, think they are following orders but are running out of what to send at us," Rick submitted as he followed Kate's thinking.
"Assuming there is one who's either less dangerous, or far more dangerous, what comes next? What's worse? Kate looked at the others, waiting for someone to say something.
"Ghosts, Wraiths, Wights," Durgeddin responded.
"Banshee, Lich," Eslor offered.
"You mean like screaming Banshee?" Rick asked her and watched as she nodded.
"We volunteered for this. We don't have to do this. We are not being paid by Silverymoon to do this," Kate said through clenched teeth.
Now they had something new to talk about between them.