We had made quick work of the apprentice wizard and the three guards that were accompanying him on the corridor. It turned out that the confined space suited us better with them, with the wizard being unable to conjure anymore magic, given he didn’t have time or space to manipulate the air around him.
He was the first person that we had taken down, I had grabbed hold of his arms and bent his wrists back until they snapped, leaving him a whimpering wreck on the floor. The guards were lower levels than us so were easy enough to render unconscious.
After that we headed back down the stairs at speed, racing down the corridor to catch up with the captain, we couldn’t let him get away. More guards tried to block our path along the way but Galahad used his suit of armour like a battering ram as he barrelled into them. I started wishing that Raven was with us, but she was likely at the ‘Old Hag’ with Geovana, hopefully coming up with a way of rescuing us.
Still somehow we managed to make it outside of the tower and away from the dungeon.
“He’s up there,” Galahad said, pointing towards the fleeing captain. “Not only his he a scoundrel but he is a coward to, no doubt fleeing to his master.”
“This is as good of a chance as we are going to have to find the Gods Father.” I said setting off after the limping captain.
“Then why are you still chit chatting,” Galahad said.
I could hear him behind me, it was hard not too, he movement was much slower than mine, but right now in this moment my eyes were fixed on the captain who was heading towards the town square.
There were only a few townsfolk in the street, the ones I saw looked like they were up to no good, trying to hide in the shadows of the alleys.
Lamps lined the street, that were lit, casting eerie shadows against the cobbled stone as I closed in on the town square. My stamina was lowering but I had to keep going, I contemplated activating my berserker skill, thinking the increased speed will allow me to catch up but opted to hold onto this for now, after all we were likely about to end up in a big fight.
As I reached the town square I saw the captain charge at the fountain, he fumbled around before the ground shook with a low rumble. To my surprise a set of stone stairs appeared to the side of it, by one of the lamps.
I couldn’t believe it. Was it the Gods Father’s lair, had he been underneath us this whole time!
“Silas, Silas can you hear me.” It was Fidget, her face appeared in front of me as a projection.
“Now now Fidget, I am kind of busy.”
“I haven’t been able to call, Belzebere’s Reavers have been too close, it’s not been safe. I was worried, Sy said that you had headed to find Ruby so I thought I would meet you here, at Ruby’s and you are not here.” She had notable concern and worry on her face, along with tired drooping eyes and a few cuts and grazes to boot.
“We have a lot to catch up on but right now isn’t a good time.”
“Where are you?”
“Willowshire,”
“Why are you there?”
“Listen?” I snapped, “I don’t have time, to explain, let’s just say I have had a couple of side quests.”
“Side quests,” she literally followed up with a bark and a disapproving growl. “we don’t have time for side quests Silas.”
“What in the gods is going on! Silas, answer me, why are you all sweaty? Why do you look like you have been fighting?”
Fidget kept on bombarding me with questions, her projection was slightly opaque making it possible to see through her, but it was still disorientating.
I hit the ground with a thud as I crashed into something, Fidget’s projection, clearly not opaque enough. I let out a grunt and a groan as I bounced of the cobbled stone, all the while Fidget’s face remaining in front of me.
“Silas, what is going on, are you ok?”
“I’m fine,” I answered, I was snarky in my response as I stood up and dusted myself down. Raven was led on the ground, shuffling back to her feet, she instantly started aggressively signing.
“You’re ok?” I said to her as she shook her head at me.
“Look I think we have found the Gods Father’s lair.” I pointed to the stone steps that were now visible by the fountain. “We need to be quick before they vanish again.”
“What do you mean am I ok?” Fidget said reminding me that she was still there.
“I wasn’t talking to you?” I said spinning around, it was too distracting having her projection in front of me as well as Raven, with Galahad fast approaching.
“Who were you talking to Silas, will you just answer me.”
“Can you call me back? I am kind of in the middle of something?” I asked.
Fidget’s eyes wet wide with shock, I thought that I had offended her with how short I was being but then I realised she could see behind me.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Silas, there’s a reaver right behind you. Her face even closer as she inspected Raven. “It can’t be,”
“Listen, I can explain, just not right now.” I said suddenly feeling like I needed to be on the defensive.
“EXPLAIN!” Fidget roared, her voice turning into an aggressive growl do you know what she is, who she is.”
“She is my friend!” I said
“She is the enemy! Silas how could you be so stupid! If you can’t kill her you at the very least need to get away from her.”
“Woah, no one is killing anyone, except maybe this Gods Father boss I think we are about to face!”
“BOSS BATTLE! Silas what have you got yourself into.” she sighed, “Do not do anything stupid, I am on my way. I will see if Ruby has anything that will get me to you faster. Get away from Raven, she isn’t safe to be are-” her projection cut off, I assumed her magic had run short or she had some form of timer on it to stop Belzebere tracking her.
But did she say Raven, I thought. She definitely said Raven.
“Wait do you two know each other? Is that why you are always hiding every time that she calls.
There was a sadness in Raven’s eyes, one I hadn’t seen before, a vulnerability that she had never shown. She tried signing to me, this time a lot more softer than she usually did.
“Just stop,” I said snapping at her, “Have you been lying to me all this time?”
Raven signed again, this time she shook her head before pointing at me and making the sign for friend.
“Friend!” I said, “Friends do not lie to each other Raven!”
She shook her head, her signing getting faster and more erratic, tears were forming in her eyes.
“Goodness what is going on?” Galahad said as he reached us, “Where is the captain? Sean, why are you shouting.”
“My name isn’t Sean, for the thousandth time it is Silas!”
“I don’t know what has you all bothered but we have the small task of catching the captain.” Galahad saw the stairs now next to the fountain. “I hate to alarm you but those look new.”
“The captain opened it, I think it leads to The Gods Father’s lair.”
“Well are we going to stand around all day or are we going to end this?” Galahad said, “I don’t know what has got your panties in a twist but it needs to stop. Whatever is going on you can deal with it afterwards.”
“I don’t need advice from a drunk!” I snapped.
I wasn’t expecting the look of disappointment that Galahad gave me, “Well when all this is said and done, we can go our separate ways. If I could ask you to help with the small matter of the Gods Father that would be brilliant. That is what we agreed to do isn’t it?”
I felt guilty for snapping, “I’m sorry, there is just so much to take in, Fidget called me.”
“As much as I would like to know who Fidget is and what a call is, I think we are better following the girl into the lair.”
Raven was already at the entranceway making her way down the steps, this whole situation was so messed up.
“Raven wait, you can’t go in there on your own.” I may as well have spoken to a brick wall, because she completely ignored me and headed inside.
With no other option I chased after her and followed her into the lair, with Galahad following close behind.
“Raven!” I called out trying to get her attention but by the time I reached the bottom of the stairs she was already out of sight. “Shit!” I cursed as I tried to pick up the pace. As I started down the tunnel an unknown force struck me, a shot of pain in my head was followed by a blinding flash of light, then suddenly everything went dark.
When I came to, I quickly realised that my arms were bound behind my back. My vision was blurry and I had the mother of all headaches, a light ringing noise sounded in my ears, tinny and high pitched.
Trying to adjust to the light, I attempted to gather my bearings, we were definitely still underground. The chamber that I was in was illuminated by torches that were fixed to the walls, the room itself resembled a cave, with stone walls surrounding us. Suddenly I felt very unsafe and very alone.
I tried to flex my arms but the ropes were bound too tightly, my wrists burned where the thick rope was cutting into my skin.
There was a group of people surrounding us, varying grunts, a couple of guards, the captain and Morgrim. Morgrim had a face like thunder as he stared at me. I looked to my left and my right. Raven was beside me, he hands bound in front of her, with metal irons, they covered her hands in their entirety, the metal was black with small glowing runes etched onto them. The chains that bound them together was tethered to the floor. Galahad was on my right, his visor covering his face, his head was bowed forward, he was still unconscious.
I was on my knees, sitting on the backs of my feet, a nasty taste of iron in my mouth as I frantically wondered what our options were. I could have triggered my berserk skill, surely that would have given me enough strength to rip my ropes, but what about Galahad and Raven, without them free and able to fight there was no way that I would be able to take on Morgrim, the captain and their combined forces of grunts and guards. It would be suicide.
“Let me go,” I demanded, pulling against the ropes, they continued to bite into my skin. “Let me go you ass holes or you will regret this.”
Morgrim and the captain burst into laughter, the captains face was slightly swollen from the beating that Galahad had given him. Morgrim, cracked his knuckles and punched one fist into the other.
“I am going to enjoy this so much.” He said with a menacing grin.
“I want the drunkard?” The captain said, he turned to his side as one of the other guards fetched him a shield. It was huge, rectangular and covered two thirds of his body. On the front of it was what looked like some kind of lion creature cast into the metal, some kind of pattern on the outer edge. It was slightly rusted and looked as though it was in desperate need of a good polish.
Galahad murmured as he started to come around.
“I’ll have a fresh cup of tea please mummy and a biscuit too,” his head jolted up and he snorted as he realised something wasn’t right. “What is the meaning of this, unhand me-” His eyes fixed on the captain who remained standing opposite us. “Is that my shield, you bastard. Give it back.”
“I might hold onto this a little bit longer,” the captain sneered, “Perhaps I will give it you back when I bury your corpse and it is stained with your blood.”
“You do not deserve to hold that shield, you hold no honour.” Galahad said while pulling tightly against his restraints.
“What do you know about honour Galahad, you are nothing but a shit stain on this town. Do actually think any one will care when you are no longer of this earth. You are a burden to society and I will be doing them a great favour in ridding this place of you.” The captain spat on the ground in front of Galahad. “You contribute nothing, you constantly get in the way, you are a hinderance, a liability nothing more than a cockroach.”
The look of shame on Galahad was clear, he looked down at the ground and stopped pulling on the ropes that bound him.
“Don’t speak to him like that,” I said, “he may have his flaws but he is more of a man than you ever will be. If he didn’t care about the people of this town he wouldn’t of agreed to help me.” I said. “This is all on me, you should let these two go, everything that has happened has all been me, blame me.”
“I’d rather think that this isn’t all about you.” A well spoken voice said, it was soft and gentle. It came from behind Morgrim and the captain who stepped to either side to allow them past them.
It was him, it was the GodsFather.