"The so called common tongue is confusing. So Crimea or Krime is not a place," asked Javindar in a low voice as they ventured further into the tunnels. "It is merely a description of illegal and most likely disreputable activities."
Nahbob nodded. "Aye, she is most likely referring to herself as a higher ranked member of some lawless organization. Similar to the Thugees of the ill-named Holy Mountain in Vinraj, the Triads of the Emerald Throne, or the Yakuzas of Wa."
"Hrmph, I'm not sure if I can trust someone like that, regardless of the inherent danger surrounding us. She already mentioned that she accepted a contractual killing from Prince Vleda against me. Perhaps we should turn them aside, "suggested Javindar.
"I do not advise that sire, given the power and number of Asura surrounding us. Vinraj and likely the world's fate would be best served if we simply …tolerate…their presence until after we find Rina and Martin, and aid them in stopping this crisis."
Javindar sniffed at the thought of playing a supporting role to those two but nodded in agreement. "I suppose I can lower myself to be in the company of rogues if it means it advances the greater good, though it chafes my pride that she throws around the word royalty so lightly. It demeans real royalty like myself…"
"Hey guys, I'm standing right here. I can hear everything you're saying," interjected Chloe with a forced smile as she butted in between Javindar and Nahbob. As she did so, her ears grew large and furry like that of a wolf's. She even wiggled them to accentuate her point.
"Hey I don't care if you're from some high and mighty foreign kingdom, and you look down on us common plebeians from your perfect ivory towers," said Chloe still smiling. " I'm sure everything is perfect in your little world and you never get your hands dirty, save for vanquishing some beast or monster threatening the kingdom in some heroic fashion. The mere thought of someone claiming themselves to be royalty outside your inbred circle must be abhorrent to you and for that I must apologize. However….."
Nymk rolled her eyes at the dramatic pause.
"…don't you dare look down on my .. family," she said with heavy emphasis on the word family. " My mother was the Lady of Blackstone, a Dryad Queen who can trace her lineage all the way to the First World, that's the plane of the Fey if you didn't know…the gods' first draft of the world. As for my father, he may be a low born dwarf and nothing but a simple manager for a very aggressive business conglomerate, but no one trash talks him. He's the most respected Guildmaster from Thyatis to Grom, and he operates in the open. Why? Cuz no one can touch him, or are afraid to. No one messes with his crew and more importantly no one messes with him. He kills people with just a nod of his beard, but that doesn't mean he can't get his hands dirty when he needs to. I've seen him strangle an ogre loan shark that thought he didn't have to play by our rules, and cut off the claw of a shapechanged dragon that believed we should have fawned all over him cuz he can breath fire or some shit like that. "
Javindar stopped and glared at Chloe. The small girl was still smiling but he could see murder in her eyes. He wasn't afraid of her boasts or her implied threats, but he knew he had wronged her.
"I apologize for my disparaging words," said the Prince with an unexpected bow. "I should not have spoken thusly about you with little or knowledge of your past or heritage. If I could, I wish to begin our relationship anew."
Chloe's smile was replaced by a puzzled look. She showed brief disappointment but her smile quickly recovered, "Oh that's alrite. I was just having fun with you. My family has been called worse, by much less handsome," she purred.
Nahbob was surprised as well by the Prince's humility, it wasn't so long ago that a duel would have broken out under circumstances. He gave a slight nod of approval before pausing as he stared at a wall they were passing.
"My lord, there is a ward or perhaps an illusion here," said Nahbob in a low voice as he closed his eyes and concentrated on the unassuming tunnel wall.
Chloe touched the wall, causing both Nahbob and Nymk to cringe, but only succeeded in knocking on solid rock. "Are you sure, it seems pretty real to me."
"I detect an anomaly here as well, and given your impromptu detection methods at least we can rule out a trap, " said Nymk as she approached the wall cautiously. After studying the blank wall for a while she began repeating several phrases in different languages. Javindar could not identify most of her tongues, but did recognize some words and phrases of Aquan, Alphatian, and even Infernal. After a minute of unproductive chants, the wall shimmered briefly before revealing a chamber within.
"This caster was powerful, but…how should I put it…lazy. He used a generic command phrase instead of inventing a unique one. Fortunately for us, Lady Nymk is very learned to know so many command words and in so many languages," praised Nahbob.
"It's just Nymk," corrected the archer before she drew her bow and silently slipped into the room.
"That's Nymk for you," chuckled Chloe as she followed. "The world's most humble sex golem."
Javindar didn't recall discussing whether to enter the room or not, but given half their group had already done so, he sighed and followed. What he saw inside however caught him off guard.
Since they were in something Rina referred to as a tear of Rovagug, the demonic army on the surface battling the golden dragon, and that they had been constantly assaulted by lower planar forces since entering, Javindar expected some type of dungeon setting or at least the occasional lava or ash pool in this secret room. Even some unholy scrawls on the ground, or some form of sacrifice altar would not be unexpected. However, despite his dire predictions, the room before them resembled one of his resting rooms back in his Ghata palace.
There were divans, pillows, and even copious amounts of silk drapes that covered the tunnel walls. Incense and perfumed candels burned, while off to the side was a small tray with exotic liquors and crystal goblets, a hookah, and even a pair of animated fans that gave a gentle breeze throughout the room.
"Another illusion?" asked Nymk as the Archer notched and arrow and fell into a combat stance.
"Nay," said Nahbob as he used his magic across the room. He then prodded one of the pillows while incanting some arcane phrases. "These are unexpected, but quite real.
"There's something odd here," warned Chloe as her hands grew into claws. She scanned the room briefly before stopping before a pile of pillows.
Javindar wouldn't let the element of surprise go to waste. In a flash he charged the pillows, slicing away with his Khanda. While he wasn't sure what he was aiming at, he choose the center mass as his target, and was rewarded with an unexpected shriek as a brow blur leapt directly at him. Javindar's instincts were to block with his wicker shield, but paused as a familiar little fellow hopped on his shoulder.
"Oook, ook, eeek, eeek" said Quogy.
"Is..is that a monkey?" asked Chloe in wonder. She quickly dug through her pockets and produced a nut of some sort. She threw it at the monkey which quickly snatched it and did a flip in appreciation. " Ooohh…we don't see many ….primates up north, except the carnivorous albino apes and the yeti, but that's another story."
"It's a spider monkey. Specifically, my spider monkey," said Javindar as petted its tail. "The last I saw him, he was aboard the Golden Eagle in Ghata. Prophet knows how he got all the way here."
"You recall the sealed room on your ship? I believe the demons we released for information had taken him hostage," answered Nahbob from across the room as he was busy investigating the walls further. "Perhaps the same demons are nearby?"
Javindar nodded he scanned the room with his Puranas vision as a precaution, but detected no evil. That proved nothing though as this entire complex radiated evil to some degree and was most likely masking his foes' auras from him.
Chloe's nose changed slightly to a dark triangle shape, like that of a dog. She sniffed Quogy once before smiling towards the creature. "Your monkey is clean. It's not a shape changed critter or under some dark spell or some other form of trap."
"Thank Puranas for that small consolation," said Javindar. He wasn't sure if he would have the heart to slay his favorite pet, especially after such a long absence.
As Nahbob began scanning the room with his magic, while Nymk searched it by more mundane means, Chloe hopped on a big pile of pillows and rolled about like a little girl.
"This is a pretty swanky pad these demons have here, though I'll wager your mansion is a lot nicer than this," she said even as she poured herself a drink. Javindar was about to caution her about poison but the druid girl easily lapped down the beverage. "I bet even your cups are nicer, though these are pretty nice."
Javindar smirked as he sat cross legged beside her. He poured himself a drink after sniffing it to ensure there was no alcohol in it. Not that he would have cared since it was probably concocted by some other unholy brew, but it didn't glow overtly evil earlier when he scanned it, and given that the end of the world was upon them he could forgive himself for a lapse in judgement. Also he didn't want to be shown up by this small odd woman.
"Whoa there Prince, save some for Nahbob and Nymk, " giggled Chloe as Javindar downed his strange milky tasting beverage. It was sour and had a hard kick to it. Javindar attempted to quaff down his drink like Chloe but it felt funny in his throat and he embarrassingly coughed some of it out.
"This room resembles that of my father's harem. While I am presently forbidden to enter it, I have been in there when I was a boy," he said attempting to change the subject.
"Oh, I bet your harem is much nicer than this slum. Classy chicks all around, no ugly or fat girls to be seen. I bet they're all stunning long limbed beauties, that sing in perfect pitch all day," commented Chloe as she poured herself another drink from another unknown bottle.
Javindar paused to consider her ridiculous comment but said nothing.
"The Prince has no harem," replied Nahbob finally. "He…he is too involved in military matters and in holy questing to concern himself with such things at this time."
Chloe smiled coyly. "Oh, but I bet he as a special little Princess somewhere doesn't he? As soon as he puts an end to this evil, he's going to build her a palace where he's going to give her the business, and pop out a dozen little prince and princesses," she teased.
Javindar shifted uncomfortably and once again changed the subject. "Actually most of my kingdom's wealth goes towards military expenditures. A new palace would be out of the question, though I'll most likely have one of the summer palaces refurbished for my usage."
Chloe appeared genuinely shocked. "What? I thought the mysterious kingdoms of Vinraji were full of diamonds the size of coconuts, roads paved with gold, and rare spices that cost more than most peasants make in a year."
"Not all the Kingdoms of Vinraj are the same. Ghata was once rich as you described but most of our gem and precious metal mines have been depleted a century ago, and our glorious military has become…somewhat of a burden. Though our economy has diversified we are no longer as wealthy as we once were. While it would be for the nation's best interest to reduce our soldiers, we are surrounded by enemies both immortal and mortal," shrugged Javindar. He wasn't sure why he was revealing this to Chloe, but did feel a warm glow in his cheeks. Despite their less than cordial start he had warmed up to this odd girl so full of energy, or perhaps it was the odd milk beverage?
"I don't know anything about your enemies, but I do know something about mines. Gold and gems don't appear out of nowhere. Where you find one vein you just have to look around to find others."
Javindar sighed, loud enough for Nahbob to know to continue with the boring logistics of the situation. "We have dug deeper to no avail. We've also attempted a magical solution and have used swamis and gurus to little effect. Ghata's economic problems are a growing concern. The Sultan had hoped the Prince's arranged marriage would alleviate us from this problem. Our neighbour Nashput is an economic powerhouse, but a militarily weak nation. Marriage to Holy Sampada would have solved many problems for both our nations but sadly…"
Nahbob stopped as Javindar glared at his servant. He had said too much for his liking. It was one thing for the a Prince to babble about the private affairs of state, it was quite another for his servant to.
"Oooh, so I was right, there is a Princess after all. My friend Jimmy use to date a Princess, but she was some tramp that dumped him at first opportunity. I bet your Princess is like…is like way classier than that hoe. I mean mind your 'thees' and 'thous', drink tea with the pinky finger up and ride cross-saddle kind of a dame."
Javindar frowned. While the druid girl was entertaining in a crass way, he grew tired of talking about his literally dead love life with her. "Due to Khanian interference, I doubt my arranged marriage will come to pass. Once I defeat the evil on this island I will worry about Ghata's economic problems."
Prince Javindar shook his head to no one but himself. Holy Sampada, Whelp. He had held out hope that she was simply lost at sea, but now as the world was on the precipice of destruction he finally accepted that she was gone. She was to be his bride. He didn't care if she deceived him, they had shared something special during their brief time together. In the end he had failed her, but he would not fail her memory. That was the only thing left that drove him onwards on his quest.
Chloe grew silent sensing the change of mood in the room. Javindar thought she almost looked pretty and thoughtful when she wasn't babbling incessantly. He also thought that sour milk drink probably contained some alcohol in it, and he should refrain from drinking it in the future.
Fortunately, before he did something he would regret, Nymk and Nahbob appeared excited over finding something in the far corner of the room.
"My Prince, I think we found a way further in," said Nahbob. Chloe jumped from her divan and practically skipped to the corner, followed in tow by Javindar.
Nymk quickly repreated the same phrases from earlier and another doorway appeared. She drew her bow once more and cautiously approached it, but as she neared a large clawed hand lunged out. Though the archer was fast, the hand was faster, blindingly so, as it grabbed her head and yanked her through the portal.