Friends Who Became Villainesses

By Henry Cobb

Chapter Nine: The Delve

If I had been Lady Depecia then I would have shot the foot-long scorpion off of Dame Yoryman with an arrow, and if I had been Lady Yeuxpera then I wouldn't have broken the blade of the steel replica of the Jade Blade that Lady Malheurfla had designed for me when I pinned the bug against the rough-hewn tunnel wall. Had these monsters always been a few dozen yards under the slums I had walked for the first decade of my life?

"Ow!"

"Dame Yoryman, are you hurt?" I willed my wisp light closer to examine her.

"It stung me here." She pointed to the middle of her right thigh.

"Miss Pureheart," Princess Amesombra let her four shadow serpents (which had dispatched most of the scorpions) dissolve into tiny puffs of black fog and vanish as she turned to me, "Have you memorized the chant to neutralize poisons?"

"Yes, but I need to look at the affected area to focus the spell."

"All of you boys face away and guard the tunnel before and behind us. The penalty for peeking is death for you two commoners and forced marriage to this girl beneath your rank for you six nobles. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Your Highness." The boys all turned away.

Synthia wiped off and put away her dagger and joined Professor Hirudine, who walked over to us and then leaned against her staff.

I unbuckled Dame Yoryman's belt and pulled her trousers down to her knees so I could examine the spreading redness on her leg. "Does Your Highness know any spells that can help?"

"Venom is not alive so my Black Magic has no effect on it, outside of my own body. I can help dull her pain later, but we need her to feel where it hurts now."

I cast neutralize poison then healing, and most of the redness faded away.

Dame Yoryman refashioned her trousers and managed to walk with a limp, with Professor Hirudine's help.

"Your Highness, she needs to rest. Should we not leave the dungeon now?"

"One more thing for you to try out, Miss Pureheart." Amesombra examined the wall and consulted her copy of the map she and her friends had prepared before the discovery of this dungeon had been announced. "It's somewhere near here. What?" A complex circular pattern appeared as a red glow below her feet. She tried to step away but was stuck.

"Amy!" I launched myself at her and we wrapped our arms around each other as we rolled across the floor. I looked around but didn't see the others, then I noticed that we were in a different room, with finished stone walls. I rolled off Amesombra, got to my feet, and helped her to hers. "Where are we?"

"Yes, this is the spot." She pointed at a life-sized white marble statue in an alcove recessed in the wall.

"She only has one dagger and doesn't have a quiver to go with the bow, but is this what I will look like when I'm an adult?"

"I think the nose is slightly different."

"Really?" I stepped past Amesombra to study the statue.

"Did they capture my best side, Kitten?"

I turned around and saw Amesombra mimicking the pose of the ebony statue behind her, with fingers spread forward. "What's with the hair?"

"Oh?" She turned around, "I think that's a reference to Medusa."

"Who's that?"

"A mythical woman from my world whose hair turned into snakes. Her face was so ugly that to look on it was to die."

"Even with that anguished scowl, Your Highness' adult face is still beautiful."

"Anguished?" She turned back to examine the statue.

"If I saw that expression then I would hold Your Highness tight," I stepped up and wrapped my arms around her, "Until your curses turned to sobs. Then I would wait until you were ready to talk about what had bothered you so."

"Well, no accounting for taste." She put her hands on mine to open my grasp. "We have a few minutes until Princess Amesombra bursts through that door with the shadow monsters, and a few things to do before then."

"But you are Princess Amesombra!"

"Yes, that complicates things a bit." She knelt in front of my statue. "That trap was only supposed to trigger for you, not me."

"Can we go back the same way?"

"That never works in the game, but go find where we entered to see if you can find a return circle."

I looked around. "Why is there no dust on the floor?"

"There's no air circulation, hence we can't stay." She pressed her thumbs against the pedestal under my statue and a drawer slid out. "Here it is." She pulled out the Jade Blade.

I accepted the offered handle and holstered the blade, in place of its broken replica. "Amy, are you sure you don't need a weapon of your own?"

"While my magical potential is slightly less than yours, I have a year's head start on mastering it, along with another year playing the game before I died."

"If I have the top magical potential then what threat is the demon lord?"

"The demon lord greatly enhances the magical potential of the host and is also able to access all of their talents and memories, without their ability to resist. That's what makes the false love host paths especially challenging for you, as they turn every secret you've shared with them against you. We do need to get your romance path started when we get out of here. Isn't there any boy who's shown any interest in you?"

"Sir Harcues proposed to me, but I turned him down."

"What? He's not one of the conquerable characters!"

"I doubt that any boy would have an actual interest in myself, as I have no title, nor Dame Yoryman's curves. Why did you make marrying her sound like a fate worse than death? I doubt I would ever tire of her gentle smile."

"Just show any boy your statue there. We two spend the next two years growing up, then the two after filling out to those forms. I think we've waited as long as we dare. Angie, when I give the word you are to ready your bow and blow down the door with an exploding arrow. Then you will nock another arrow and count five heartbeats. Blast any monsters inside the room after that point. Aim for groups to take out as many as you can. When you run out of arrows, drop the bow, draw the Jade Blade, and blast the monsters with your power."

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"I channel my power through the blade?"

"No, the blade is to be used if I approach without gaining your permission first. There are indications in the game that I may lose myself to the darkness and in that case I need you to survive to protect my family. Cutting down Princess Amesombra in this room is usually Prince Tenecoeur's role, but I couldn't talk him into joining this little adventure."

"Why do we have to do this now?"

"Because one of the other groups of students will reach the other side of the door soon and none of them have powers to match our own. Are you ready?"

"I'm starting to sense the shadow creatures gathering on the other side of the door. What is drawing them here?"

"They're drawn to my nature. Hence it would be easier for me to deal with small groups of monsters from the other side of that path. But we're stuck here now, and we must act. Draw your arrow and unleash the havoc."

"Havoc!" I cried as I let loose a light-enhanced arrow.

The door exploded into shadows packed so solidly I could not make out the outlines of where one stopped and the other began. I could not hope to count their number, but I think my first arrow took out a half dozen who had pressed against the door. Indescribable shadows flooded through the doorway like the waves at Lady Yeuxpera's seaside estate.

Suddenly the leading monsters turned and fell on those that had followed them. With no indication of which were under the control of the princess, I nocked my next arrow and counted. Slowly the tide of darkness turned with shadows falling on both sides as she continued to extend her control. After four heartbeats the shadow war had been pushed beyond the shattered door and one pace further down the corridor beyond. As these creatures had no true physical substance their vicious battle made no sound so I could hear in the silence when Amesombra dropped to her knees. The next thing I heard was when she collapsed on the floor and suddenly all the shadows turned back towards us. I launched a shining arrow to explode into the crowd as they reached the doorway then nocked another arrow.

When I ran out of arrows I dropped the bow and drew the Jade Blade with my right hand as I conjured a shower of light bolts from my left hand. I continued firing as my chest grew tight and I struggled to breathe. As the shadows clawed their way in past the shattered door I took one step forward to be in front of where Amesombra lay before I fell to my knees.

I don't remember when it was that I collapsed to the ground. I lay there watching through blurry eyes as shadows crawled across the walls illuminated only by the final flickers of my wisp light. I struggled to raise my dagger to meet the dark claw that raked down towards me.

Suddenly an arc of fire swept across the room above me, tearing through all the shadows. I could just make out the outline of the girl who stepped through the doorway, illuminated by the flame she held in her left hand.

"Lady Malheurfla." I croaked out.

"Angelica and Princess Amesombra!" She rushed in, followed by students and two professors. "Are we too late?"

"I don't see any obvious injuries on them," Professor Hirudine responded.

Synthia knelt to examine Amesombra, then turned to me.

I had rolled over onto my back. "What of Her Highness?"

"The princess is breathing normally and appears to just be asleep."

"That's good to hear." I closed my eyes.

The next thing I was aware of my head was resting in somebody's lap. I opened my eyes and looked up at Amesombra's face above me. "I think I lasted for longer than Your Highness."

"Yes, Miss Pureheart, I think you did. My apologies, and the only pitiful excuse this feeble princess can offer is that half of my strength was expended struggling to retain my balance against the pull of darkness. We can discuss the full details once we are out of here. Now rest quietly while we determine our next move. Sorry for the interruption, Lady Malheurfla, you were saying?"

I saw that Amesombra's three friends were sitting next to where I lay with my head on her lap and I could see no obvious injury on any of them.

"Miss Lugt," Malheurfla nodded towards the only other commoner girl in our freshmen class, "Please tell Her Highness what you found."

"Your Highness and ladies, using the techniques Lady Malheurfla taught me I found two places where the rock that had been placed to block a secret passage differed in composition from that which surrounded it. Lady Malheurfla said that the first one was to be investigated later and directed me to search for the route to this chamber."

"That first hidden passage wasn't on Lady Malheurfla's map?"

"No, Your Highness."

"Lady Yeuxpera," Amesombra held out her palm to her, "Hand over your power gamer crown please."

"No." Yeuxpera responded, "This path wasn't there before. This is a change."

"How did Your Ladyship know to make these maps?"

"Miss Lugt, have you heard of scrying in pools of water?"

"Only in myths, Your Highness."

"Just consider Lady Yeuxpera's insights to be something like that."

"As Your Highness says."

"Let's go see," I sat up.

"Miss Pureheart, can you stand?"

"I can try, Your Highness."

"Let's try together." She entwined her right arm with my left and we leaned against each other as we stood, with assistance from Lady Yeuxpera for Amesombra and Lady Depecia for myself.

"I can walk, but not cast or fight. Your Highness?"

"The same. Let us walk out of here for now."

I looked around the room and counted heads, then counted again. I looked over the faces and then shouted out, "Where is Lord Vurbor?"

"I'm over here, Commoner."

I found him resting in the corner with his arm in a sling. "Lord Vurbor, I am unable to assist you currently, but please see me tomorrow about your arm."

"I don't expect anything from you, Commoner."

Amesombra humored the students who wanted us two to pose in front of our statues for a few minutes then ordered everyone out to the exit.

As we left the room one of the baronial daughters said to another, "Isn't it absurd how the princess makes her pet dress up like The Saint, with a fake bow and dagger?" And her friend responded, "And she dresses herself up as the host of The Demon Lord."

Amesombra must have heard this also, as she allowed herself a brief smile.

When we reached the rope ladder leading up to the slum house both Amesombra and I were able to climb, but Lord Vurbor needed to be hoisted up on a rope.

I was awoken in the middle of the night by a distant explosion. I turned over on my back and listened carefully but heard nothing afterward other than Amesombra whispering "The plot thickens" in my ear. I turned away from her and she wrapped her arms around me again. I lay there for many minutes hearing only her breath on the back of my neck before I joined her in sleep.

The next morning the school was abuzz with the news that the dungeon we had been in yesterday had exploded in the middle of the night, killing two of the city guard stationed there and at least three slum dwellers.

The entire freshman class was called in one at a time to be questioned by the professors. Lord Vurbor exited just as Amesombra was called in.

"Here, let me help you with that. How did this happen, Lord Vurbor?"

"Lady Yeuxpera broke my arm. Ask anybody else in her group if you doubt my word, Commoner."

He sat and let me place my hands on his injured arm.

He seemed a little relieved from my healing but left without a further word.

Then it was my turn to answer the headmaster's questions, "Did Her Highness intentionally trigger that magic circle?"

"Not that I saw, Your Lordship. She seemed as surprised as anyone else."

"Did Her Highness say what was the source of the map she carried?"

"Her Highness indicated that Lady Yeuxpera drew these maps from visions that were something like scrying in water."

"What was the source of the design of the bow you carry?"

"Lady Depecia says it is modeled on the legendary Silver Bow."

"Has Her Highness ever called you The Saint?"

"No, Your Lordship. She often calls me her kitten, in honor of the pet she drowned before I met her."

"And this comparison doesn't alarm you?"

"I am happy to be of some small comfort to Her Highness."

"I believe you have a pet of your own, that unicorn?"

"Your Lordship, I found Yinshou injured in a forest and used what little healing magic I knew at the time on him. He followed me and Her Highness has made a home for him at the palace."

I felt privileged enough after keeping their secret to ask of the four as they gathered that afternoon in Amesombra's room, "Did this cult you speak of blow up the dungeon?"

"Most likely, Kitten."

"Why didn't they blow it up when we were in it?"

"They can't risk killing you or their other pawns. That's why I make such a show of having you labeled a fake saint to make it harder for them to complete their plans."

"And what is their plan?"

"To revive the Demon Lord then have their new saint save the day and function thereafter as their figurehead. They will have marked one of your classmates to be the host of the demon lord, with a few backups. On our side, we need to ensure that you have the support to not fall into their clutches. Hence I was so happy when I learned that Sir Harcues proposed to you."

"He's not one of the conquerable characters!" The three young ladies cried in unison.

"Yes, I know. But whatever works."