Riding In On Wings Of Bone

Well, there was no point in us getting here early as we did. The big boss has to see someone else first, plus they are loading the wyvern and riders who are all coming in to land, while the dwarf mechanics are pulling up huge crates of gems to load on to the special saddle holders to send to all the eight regions. Keira is dozing next to me; she needs to stop drinking late at night or taking whatever magic she is taking as it makes her so tired the next day.

Bastian watched as one of the gold wyvern raised its multi horned head as it spoke. “Your friend smells like unwashed wolf…” Bastian watched as the rider gave the wyvern an annoyed look as he spoke. “Ignore him, he likes to speak his mind far too much.” The wyvern turned, eyeing its Orc rider. “Only because you don’t…” The Orc rider eyed him. “You know, you can’t be this rude when we get to Rein Strand… the Mages and Paladins there won’t have it.”

The wyvern sneered. “Egotistic fools with more magic than sense. The elder dragons do not care for them.” Bastian looked at the golden wyvern. “My friend here is from there. She says the same thing… But what is the grand city like? I’ve heard it’s beautiful.” The wyvern leaned closer. “Yes, it’s glorious, but hideous as are all unnatural things.” The huge Minotaur guard, who was close by, eyed the rider whose saddles were now full. “Okay, you need to move over! We have another flying in from Trius Amaya!”

The wyvern eyed Bastian. “Don’t go looking for trouble, little rat man, as it will find you sooner than you think.” He smirked as his rider spoke. “Ignore him, he’s just pissed as he wants to speak to the elder dragons, but he’s on the job and not allowed.” Bastian watched as the huge wyvern moved. They were big, bigger than houses; but not nearly as huge as the elder dragons that were massive and so long lived. Wyverns could live for two hundred seasons whereas the elder dragons could live for eons.

Elders could see the rise and fall of kingdoms and races but tended to stay out of race wars and disputes, unless they had a personal interest. He watched the golden wyvern moved aside as a huge skeleton wyvern landed in his place. It had two people in the saddle. One was a skeleton warrior dressed in black horned armour. The other dressed in gold and green armour and carried a skull shield. Also a single sword, which clearly had a converted Mage hilt on the end so it could channel power as well as be used in battle. It was impossible to see the face as it was covered by decorative helmet which had red eyes blazing.

Bastian breathed in well. That was rare a war Mage, you didn’t see them often as they could channel and fight with weapons. They used to be common but their numbers had been declining. He watched as the person got off the huge skeletal wyvern as the skeleton warrior made sure they got down safely. They gave both skeletons a wave before heading towards the main building.

8

Magnus looked up as the beast-woman guard opened the door, speaking quietly. “Magnus, your visitor from Trius Amaya, the land of the undead, is here.” Magnus stroked his long beard as he sat up adjusting his glasses. “Thank you.” He watched as the armoured war Mage came in. “Ah yes, your guild told me you were coming here today… Apparently your two guild masters was very insistent.”

The person slowly eased off their helmet, revealing really dark long black hair, which was tailed, and glowing red eyes as well as white skin. She spoke with a light voice, showing her long canines top teeth and pointed ears. Clearly a vampire of some sort. “Oh, you should ignore my adopted parents; they always make a big deal whenever I go anywhere.” She watched as the big blue demon sat in his chair. Like the dragons and wyvern, demons came in many colours and types. “But yes, they did send me here for something very interesting.”

She paused, raising an armoured hand as she grinned widely. “I need two of your miners as I need to go in to one of the dungeons down here. Preferably someone strong and someone smart. I heard you run a service.” Magnus eased up a big clawed finger as he created magic symbols with his hand. These turned into miners’ faces as he put his pipe in his mouth as he started to smoke it, letting out coloured smoke which created long steams. “Could be more specific, Elysande. I have ten who would fit that.”

Elysande put her helmet down, moving over to the miner’s symbols. “Well, they have to be good in a tight fix, good at working together, oh and someone who can kill insects. Big ones.” Magnus felt a sly smile form as he threw some of the face magic symbol cards aside, moving two of them up. “Oh, I have the perfect pair for you… Since they’re getting a little cut from this operation and they’re going to complain all week about it; them going with you will mean a week of peace and quiet.”

He watched as the cards lowered. “Meet Keira, warrior. No magic but great with hammers and swords. Killed a thunder centipede in the mines once, with a vicious blow to the face. Strong for a human, can lift a lot.” He paused. “She is a package deal, though. You’ll have to bring her little rat friend Bastian along. He is very good and they work great as a team. Bonus, they are best friends.” He sneered slightly as he shook his head. “But they are both annoying and pig-headed and have no magical skills, just basic weapons training.”

Elysande smiled. “I need to kill a centipede down there, though its spews acid and ice… It’s guarding some treasure from old times. You will get a nice little cut.” Magnus sat up. “They’re both yours. Once I’ve had my meeting with them they can go with you. I’ll pack them off with supplies, and they both have their own armour… Not that you could call Keira’s an armour; it’s so ugly as well as not well maintained, unlike Bastian’s. He looks after his gear and he can use three daggers thanks to his tail.”

Elysande pulled out a small bag, throwing it on to table and watching as he took it. “Pure gold. No silver or copper. Twenty coins to cover everything... I hope.” She watched as Magnus took a coin out, biting on it, clearly to check it wasn’t a fake. He looked up, eyeing the coin. “Your gold is good quality. Nice to not have fakes for a change, they hurt the operation I’m running here.”

Elysande gave him a wide smile. “Oh I don’t do fakes good sir. My guild believes in good, honest business.” She paused. “I do hope you get those two ready for me in a few turns of the sun dial.” She moved over taking both magic symbol cards of the faces. “The guild just wants me well protected. you know how it is.” She turned Keira’s card. “I see myself having fun with this one.” Magnus snorted as he spoke. “Best of luck with that, she’s a miserable moody cretin, but she is very good at her job… Like her best friend, who is the more intelligent one.”

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8

Keira yawned as she walked in to Magnus’s office, followed by Bastian. “You wanted to see us.” Magnus breathed in, eyeing the two big travel packs he had ready. They could go and get both their armours and good from home after this. “Ah yes, my favourite people… so nice to see you both.” Bastian eyed the big blue demon. “You know; we both understand sarcasm very well.” Magnus sat up, eyeing Keira who was clearly hung over again, the idiot. “Today is both your lucky day.”

Keira folded her arms. “Oh, so we are going to get paid a decent cut?” Magnus laughed as he looked at her. “You know; its shame you’re not intelligent, because if you were you would have already caught on to what I’m going to say next.” Keira breathed in. She hated not being called smart, but it was a role she acted. Yes, she’d already seen the packs. She already knew she was going on a field trip; but playing the idiot made it that people never took too much notice of her.

Bastian eyed his boss. “Why do you always have to be this mean?” Magnus smirked. “It’s the joy of running this operation.” He eyed the bags. “Before you both get you reward, you’re going to take that vampire war Mage up to the Bright Burn tunnels, two days travel from here. She wants one of those huge centipedes dead.” He paused. “Your both very good at killing those, so do make sure you do this for and come back alive.”

Keira looked up, sharply. “She’s a war Mage! Why doesn’t she do it herself, why have us?” Magnus breathed in his pipe. “Because she can’t carry that thing out there and you’re both so good at bludgeoning them in the head.” He paused. “Plus, those sets of tunnels are very small… and no Mogwai nests because we all know how much you hate Mogwai, Keira.” He breathed in deeply. “Plus, getting out and away would be good for you. You both need fresh air.”

Keira breathed in, deeply. “A lot of people hate Mogwai, it’s not just me. They cause magic chaos, they tamper with magic and cause explosions.” Magnus sat up slightly. “Yes, and you won’t be dealing with them so quit your bellyaching.” He paused. “You both take these packs. Get dressed in your armour and meet the war Mage at the entrance to the mine, next to the cook shops and bread maker.” He watched as they both picked up there packs. “Oh and Keira…”

Keira turned to him. “Yes?” Magnus breathed in deeply, letting the breath out slowly. “Please, clean that thing you call armour. It’s filthy. Like, treat your kit with some respect.” Keira flung the pack over her shoulder. If only he knew that look was just put on by magic and rubbing dirt in. She’d always kept the real armour spotless underneath and well maintained. “Whatever you say, boss...” Magnus watched as they turned to leave. “I’m serious, Keira! Stop looking like a dirty; scruffy vagabond! You’re an insult to the race of humans!”

8

Elysande sat back as she caught sight of the rat man, dressed in red and silver plated helmet with eye sockets either side and three spikes coming out of the top. He had gauntlets as well as greaves, along with a chest plate and back plate and shoulder armour and also with some tail armour, mostly to protect the tip. He had a lot of curved daggers on him, as well as a huge swinging axe and chain mail and leather along with his trousers padding on the legs.

She looked up as the dark-red haired warrior came in to sight. She had what looked like silver armour with all the plating, but no helmet. Her armour looked over used and not well maintained, as it was dirty, although she clearly had all the under padding to it, even if it wasn’t a complete set. There was no helmet, and the two weapons crossed at her back were a long bastard sword that looked old and tired, and a large swinging axe.

They were about the same age, around twenty-seven seasons old. At least that was what she sensed and smelt. She eyed the woman, who had tailed up her red hair in a high pony tail and who had green eyes, although they looked tired. They both came to a stop close to her. “Ah, you both made it here safe and sound.” She eyed the rat man. “Bastian and Keira, I presume?”

Keira eyed the other woman. She was her same height, with long tailed dark hair and glowing red eyes, along with pale vampire skin and long canine upper teeth. She was giving her a wide smile. “I really hope we are not here to be your blood bank….” Bastian turned, eyeing his best friend in annoyance before turning back, giving the vampire his best smile. “She doesn’t mean that, she’s just hung over and cranky.”

Elysande raised her hand. “Oh, its fine. Not the first time I’ve had that, but you need not worry, I can eat human food and I feed rarely. Plus, normally I always have willing donors, it’s not like the days of old.” She moved, picking up a bag. “Brought you both some fresh food from the cook shop and bakery.” She raised an eyebrow. “I got you some meat-filled pastry and honey hot cakes and bread and cheese, it’s all fresh.”

She watched as the other woman took it, though she looked very uncertain. “You don’t talk much, do you?” Keira narrowed her gaze. “I don’t talk to that many vampire War Mages. Your kind are not seen much in these parts.” Elysande smirked. “Oh, we are here, along with skeletons ghouls and zombies; but they only come out very late at night when you are all sleeping.” Bastian eyed her. “So, are you a necromancer?”

Elysande shook her head, standing up as she adjusted her green armour. “No, and it’s very rude to take away someone’s subconscious and have them fight for you. Skeletons and zombies have souls and are their own individuals, like I am. Ghouls are another story, but the ones that have not lost themselves to eating people are good company.” She paused, easing out a leather skin scroll as she opened it so they could both see that it was a map. “So, I was told by your boss that you can take me to Bright Burn tunnels?”

Keira took a bite out of the meat-filled pastry. It tasted very good, she was not going to lie. “Yes, its two days travel and we will need to stop at Dawn Star on the way there. They have a tavern and beds to sleep in.” She moved her finger. “On the way back there is the small town, Ramstad. We’ll stop there too; so four days total. Two days in tavern and two days sleeping out in the open at camp.” Elysande eyed the map. “That’s quite a way from the other village...”

Bastian moved forward, pointing with a clawed finger. “The Bright Burn tunnels are big. They call it a small underground, but unless you’ve been there you wouldn’t know. It’s two levels, has magic traps that reset… and the thing you want hangs out in the lower level. We’ve killed one before down there, although our last client was after a huge bugbear. Alive, not dead. Anyway, those centipede things are aggressive and spit all kinds of things at you. The pincers are mean, too.”

Keira breathed in deeply. “I’d still love to know who resets all these traps, they change every time we are down there.” Elysande closed the map, putting it away carefully in her pack. “One of life’s mysteries, I guess.” She stood up, easing on her pack. “Well, I guess we should start moving and make our way to the first camp.” Bastian smiled as he moved forward. “We’ve done this plenty of times, you’re in good hands!”

Elysande watched as they both went in front as they started to walk away from the mines; they clearly both knew the way. So, they weren’t wrong, she was in good hands and she felt that very strongly. Still, they needed to get to those old tunnels. They were ancient, or at least that was what her adoptive parents had told her. They went back to the time when it had been a great empire, before the great wars of the races.

Now though, little history remained of that time; but she had to get down there, even if it was dangerous due to its age. A long forgotten dungeon that was deteriorating away. Still, she needed to go there and any place like it and get as much info as possible. She eyed her companions, who were now making their way up the green grass of the hill, towards the big beautiful distant forests. She just hoped she was right about both of them and that her instincts were right.

End of part 3

Silvermoonlight