The Wheel and the Great Tomb of Nazarick
A FAN FICTION BY BUF_BUODA
CHAPTER TWO: A New Turn
AN: Hello! As usual, I own neither Overlord, nor the Wheel of Time series. Many thanks to all who helped proof this - online and offline. I'm happy that people expressed interest in this fic by following. Min'na arigato. I have some important irl events this weekend, so I might not upload - but I did tell everyone that uploads would be monthly lol.
As usual, I'd appreciate your critiques - even if it's just 2 chapters in. And your appreciation, of course.
All Hail Ainz Ooal Gown!
Elan Morin Tedronai arrived at Shayol Ghul and made his way to the pit of doom. As he walked down the stone passage, the top of the passageway expanded upwards - so high he couldn't not see it - a sure sign of the favor of his master. As counter-intuitive as that was, reality was putty here in the place of power of the great Lord of the Dark. He arrived at the pool of nothing - the only physical manifestation of the Great Lord - and abased himself, grinding his face into the ground.
"ELAN," the voice of his master tore through him. "DID YOU FEEL THE CHANGE?"
Elan rarely thought of himself as that anymore, but the thought never crossed his mind. He ground himself into the dirt even more. "No, great Lord," there was no use lying to his master.
"REALITY FEELS… LARGER," came the impossible reply from his master.
'Larger?' thought Elan - or Ishamael, as men called him now.
"YOU WILL INVESTIGATE THIS. I WILL RELEASE MY ESSENCE TO YOU NO LONGER UNTIL YOU SUCCEED."
"Master," Elan replied "I am currently on the fools looking for the Nym. I fear I might be unable to divide my attention and get optimal results." The motivation of losing access to the True Power might have driven him, but not when balanced with the prospect of failing at the overarching mission handed him by his master.
"FEAR NOT," said his master "THEY ARE IN THE BLIGHT, MY PLACE OF POWER. I WILL PERSONALLY TAKE CARE OF THEM. THE SEALS HAVE BEEN WEAKENED ENOUGH. WITH THIS NEW… POSITION, IT FEELS MUCH EASIER TO DO THIS…"
Reality flexed.
Elan didn't know what his master had done, though he could guess. He kept himself in the dirt, awaiting his master's will.
He can casually reach outside the Bore, and anywhere in the Blight now, thought Elan, the unfamiliar feeling of unease worming its way into his heart.
"THEY WILL NOT BE A NUISANCE AGAIN - FOR NOW," said the Great Lord.
"NOW GO!"
Just like that, Elan found himself on the slopes of Shayol Ghul again. He reached for Saidin as he rose, mastering the familiar balance on the razor's edge now that the True Power was no longer available to him, and he traveled. There was work to be done, and it would be a matter akin to a delicate dance to master the new game as his master required.
Ingtar finally felt the most peace since that cursed day when he betrayed the light and swore to serve the dark one. The betrayals he'd been ordered to carry out seared his soul, even though they started out as only little things. He'd thought there would be no redemption.
His hope for redemption was rekindled now that he and his unit made it to Tarwin's gap in time to die. None may walk so long in the dark that he cannot turn to the light. He prayed fervently that it was true.
They were not dead yet though.
The situation was dire. Waves upon waves of shadow spawn pressed the army at the gap, and though the Shienerans turned them back time and time again, it was a battle of attrition they'd never win. Lord Agelmar had sent men back to the keep, and all the way to the capital. It had been evident after the first six hours that this trolloc army could not be turned back. The nation had started to evacuate, but they all knew and felt it in their bones. This was the end. The men at the gap were going to hold till they died, buying valuable time. But with hope of reinforcement weeks away, it would mean that nothing could change the fate of Shienar.
River of light took the head of a fade as Ingtar danced his horse back from its death throes - Fades never died easy. How ironic that he could use the form after what he had done. He cackled, feeling despair crushing him out of the void as the trollocs linked to the fade fell and trashed, dying. He threw his head back and laughed out loud. He would never gain salvation. How could he think otherwise? How could he hope to be saved after he had betrayed the light?
He felt a blow to his shoulder that knocked him back and brought him back from the edge of despair, at least for the moment. An arrow jutted from his arm, and pain beat upon him, along with the exhaustion that had been waiting for him now the protection of the void was gone. Barely clinging to the saddle, he guided the mount from the front line as more men rushed in to fill the gap. The Fade's death bought them a few moments, and the Shieneran heavy cavalry disengaged and wheeled away, leaving the foot to deal with mopping up the surviving trollocs.
"You need a healer," said Uno as he guided his mount besides Ingtar's.
Grunting, Ingtar acquiesced, leaving the unit once they formed up again, and making his way to the overworked healers.
"You're fortunate it went clean through," said the healer as he bandaged up the wound now that the arrow was removed.
"Hopefully it doesn't fester. Off with you now,"
Ingtar nodded his thanks and strode from the tent. There was no Aes Sedai to heal it completely - not that he would bother her for something so minor in the first place. Pain must be endured, and his unit was waiting for him.
Lan kept Mandarb at a walk as he rode away from the encampment, spiraling outwards as he scouted, and using his bond as an orienting point. His sword was sheathed, but his hand was on the hilt and he kept a careful watch. His face was hard and unyielding, yet his thoughts were troubled. He had been the first to notice the anomaly - their campsite had moved, or… He wasn't actually sure what the alternative could be.
At first, he thought the Green Man had found them. Rousing Moiraine, his ambivalence sharpened to wariness once he noticed her unease.
"I do not know where we are, Lan."
She had admitted it quietly, pitched low for just his ears.
Those words had rung every alarm bell in his head.
The horse tensed under him, and Lan immediately relaxed. Mandarb was picking up on his unease, and that wouldn't do.
He assumed the void, welcoming the increased awareness that came with it. That was what saved his life.
From the corner of his eyes, he sensed more than saw something hurtling towards him. He twisted as he began to draw, and felt the slam of ridges on his shoulder, and the fire of cuts drawn down his arm as the weight carried him clean off his mount and crashing to the ground. Mandarb kicked out instinctively, connecting with the weight on him and smashing the thing into a nearby tree. Struggling to his feet, Lan drew his sword as he sank deeper into the void, observing the monstrosity that scrambled to its feet.
It looked like a wolf, but intelligence burned in its eyes. Black flecks floated around the creature, and a broken chain wound around its neck and down its body. The chain shifted and twitched like a tail, and the thing moved, circling the man and his horse, and favoring its right side where Mandarb's hooves had connected.
Could he kill it? Those were thought that floated outside the void. In the void, there was no thought.
He moved along with Mandarb, tracking the thing, keeping it in front of him always. Mandarb positioned to provide himself an opportunity to lash out with his hooves.
The thing came towards him, flowing like a shadow, eerily silent. Lan held his blade up, one with the earth, with Mandarb, with the beast that rushed at him. With a powerful leap, the beast flew at his face. He flowed, and the thing twisted mid leap, trying to compensate.
Crunch
It was not used to killing people like him. If it was, it would have realized that the warhorse was as much a weapon as his blade. It had moved into range of Mandarb's hooves, and they collided with the skull with a sickening crunch, slamming the thing to the ground. It rolled, barely avoiding being crushed by the horse, and straight into Lan's blade where Leaf On The Breeze took off the top of its skull.
Shaking the gore off his blade, Lan knelt to examine the carcass. It had already started disintegrating. The chains were crumbling, and the black flecks were carried away on the wind. Grunting, Lan remounted and didn't bother sheathing his sword.
He set out again, eyes alert. As he rode, he could feel eyes on him, watching, yet nothing attacked him again.
He'd been riding for a while before he found a trail. It looked like a worn path, indicating that it saw frequent use. He eased Mandarb to a canter, and followed the trail until it joined a bigger road. Then he turned and began to make his way back to the camp.
It had taken the better part of the morning for Lan to return. The Warder galloped into camp, dismounting and heading straight for Moiraine Sedai.
With great effort, Egwene calmed herself again. The Warder wasn't frowning more than usual - that was just his normal face. Rising, she followed the warder to where Moiraine sat, and saw that the others had the same idea as well. The Aes Sedai saw them coming and raised her voice enough to reach them all.
"Lan," she asked "what news?"
"Wherever we are, it is not familiar - as we guessed," replied the hard man. "I found a road further ahead, and we can make it there in a little time," the warder said.
Egwene looked around. Everyone was staring intently at the Warder, as though to catch his words as he spoke them. Perrin was caressing his axe again, and Rand had the hilt of his sword gripped hard. Mat was crouched low, eyes hooded and hands under his cloak. Only Loial seemed at peace. The ogier was strangely content.
"Let's go," said the Aes Sedai. "I do not want us to camp outdoors tonight if we can help it."
The woman suited her own words and was in the saddle before she had finished talking. The rest of them rushed to their mounts - they'd been ready to move since Lan left scouting.
They followed the Warder through the woods as he went into greater detail about what he saw. The story of the wolf thing was terrifying, and surprisingly, or maybe not, Perrin had reacted the strongest. She was with him when they met Elyas after all. They were all silent following Lan, but the strangest was Mat. He looked as though he was contracting into himself, and his hands were constantly under his cloak. Egwene watched him warily, remembering he still carried the infected dagger.
Could that be affecting him again? thought the girl as she guided Bela with her knees. Loial walked beside them, leading his horse. The ogier were proud of their own feet, and rarely used animals. Loial himself would only ride under extreme circumstances.
As they got to the road, the Aes Sedai looked back at them and warned them,
"If we meet anyone, hold your tongues. We have no idea what is going on here, and your silence will be the difference between life and death - literally."
They settled into a walk, Lan taking point, and Moiraine behind him. Loial brought up the rear, and Mat skulked just in front of him.
They traveled for a bit, and Lan left them intermittently, going ahead to scout their way and the woods beside the path, and coming back to confer with Moiraine before riding off again. This time though, he didn't leave again. After conferring with Moiraine, he fell beside her, riding side by side.
Moiraine addressed them again.
"There's a village up ahead just beyond that bend. As before, I will be called mistress Alys. Lan, master Andra. You all are our travelling companions"
Her eyes sharpened as she looked them over.
"Trust no one. Stay alert. We do not know what is going on. No one should go off alone, no matter what."
Her gaze lingered over them as she watched her words sink in. Satisfied, she faced forward just as they came upon the village.
It was pretty strange looking for a village. For one, there was a sturdy, high wall around the village, and there were no structures outside the wall. It was bizarre - villages were not walled so extensively. There was a watchtower stationed overlooking the gate, and 2 heads observing them. They looked small, as though they belonged to children. But the truly strange thing was that the skin looked greenish - probably some type of paint or art. As they got closer, Egwene noted with rising alarm that the heads were much stranger than she originally thought. For one, the eyes were tiny - much tinier than normal eyes. The ears were flat against a head so muscular it was nearly deformed. The eyes were hooded by the heavy brows, so much that they appeared to be black. The mouth was wide, and fangs peeked from the lower jaw over the upper lip.
The party slowed down as they approached the gate, and stopped just out of bow shot. It was then that Egwene absently noted that bows were trained on them.
"Who are you?" called a harsh voice.
"We are travelers," called Moiraine, the cool, casual authority in her voice evident.
"We seem to have lost our way due to some strange circumstances, and would like to get information and supplies, and maybe some lodging here."
"Please be patient lady. We have sent for big sister," the voice replied.
A blonde girl came running, surrounded by more green little men with weapons. They were definitely "men" - regardless of their height.
"Big sister!" The little men at the gate cheered the blonde girl. She smiled at them, then turned to the newcomers.
"Uwaaa! What is that?!" the girl shouted as she pointed at Loial.
The ogier was flustered, but managed a very refined bow as he introduced himself.
"I am Loial, and I am an ogier. It is nice to meet you miss?"
The girl blushed.
"I - I am Enri. Enri Emmot. Welcome to Carne village," she said, with an awkward but pleasant smile. "Seems you are travelers. I am sorry for being rude, Loial san. Come in! Come in!"
The green men cleared and allowed the wide eyed party into the village. It looked like there had been a battle recently at the gates. On the other side, there was the wreckage of a watchtower which had been smashed. Some of the roofs were damaged, and one house had burnt completely.
The blonde girl and a relatively larger green man escorted them through the village.
"This is Jugem. He and his brothers have been of great help to our small village," Enri continued as she led them into the village.
"Enri sama," began Jugem, sounding scandalized. "You are our summoner! Of course we would do the best we can!"
The exchange fascinated Egwene, not least because she still did not know who the green men were, or what a Summoner was.
"There was a battle here, miss Enri?" Moiraine asked.
"Yes there was a battle - if you can call it that, stranger san. We were attacked by trolls." Enri said.
"You may call me Alys," said the Aes Sedai, picking up on the awkward way of addressing her as 'stranger'.
Taking her cue, the others introduced themselves.
"I'm Andra," said Lan, using the pseudonym that paired with Moiraine's "Alys".
"I'm Nynaeve," said the braided woman briskly.
"And these are Rand, Perrin, Mat, Egwene, and Loial," she continued, introducing them as she pointed, and taking charge as the 'leader' of the Emond fielders.
"Pleased to meet you all," Enri said with a smile.
What under the light is a troll? thought Egwene.
Moiraine just nodded as though she understood as Lan cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry, but what are you, Jugem?" asked Lan casually.
"Eh?" replied Jugem, confusion painted on his face.
"Ah, we don't have any people like you where we come from," said Lan. The slightly embarrassed look and tone of voice coming from the warder was totally shocking to the Emond fielders. Even Mat shook himself out of his gloom, shock on his face.
Jugem seemed to relax though.
"Ah, we're goblins. We were summoned by big sis here, and we help the village…"
"Hmm yes," said Enri.
"We were saved by a kind magic caster - Ainz Ooal Gown sama - when we were attacked by soldiers some time back. He gave me the means to summon goblins if I need them, and I summoned Jugem and his brothers to help around in the village."
Looking around, she waved her hands vaguely, as if to take in everything.
"He helped us with all this, even when our own Kingdom doesn't seem to care about us."
"I see," replied Lan, still looking more expressive than the Emond fielders had ever seen him.
"He must be a powerful 'magic caster'," continued Lan.
"He is," replied Enri with another smile.
They made their way to Enri's house, and she allowed them stable their horses in her barn.
"Those are beautiful horses, Andra san, Alys san," sighed Enri as they led their horses in. With a smile, Moiraine expressed her thanks.
"Rand, Perrin, Mat, please help us take care of the horses," Moiraine said in a voice that made it clear it wasn't a request.
"Andra," she said as she pulled her blue shawl around her. "Let's go and talk with miss Enri."
The two of them followed Enri into the house as Jugem took his leave.
The strangers were the strangest strangers Enri had ever seen. For starters, they did not look like anyone around the area. They were very obviously foreigners. Their clothes were cut in different styles, even though they were quite similar. The woman Alys wore what she'd always imagined ladies wore in the capital. Andra san looked like a soldier, yet dressed like a prince. The cloak around him was luxurious and seemed to change color - sometimes a green so dark it was nearly black, sometimes a brown that would fade in the woods. His sword was also strange.
All that was nothing compared to the thing that called itself 'Loyal'. It was huge - almost ten feet tall, with eyes like teacups, and long, tufted ears. Broad nose, and a wide mouth, yet a cultured manner about it by its speech. She had embarrassed herself in the manner she addressed it.
The strangers referred to themselves by their names without any honorifics.
'Could they be that close to one another, despite how they looked?' she thought to herself. She dismissed that idea. After all, they also referred to her and Jugem without honorifics.
All that should have been cause for suspicion. Yet she was not too concerned about her safety. Lupusregina Beta was currently in the village, and she was confident the Nazarick maid could handle the small party without too much incident.
'Something is going on,' Enri thought to herself. 'This is my chance to be useful to Ainz sama and begin to pay him back for how he has helped our village!'
With that mindset, the girl set her mind towards finding out as much as she could, as discreetly as she could manage.