“Abby, left! Barry, keep those ones occupied, I’m going to help Abby!”
“Got it!” Barry responded to Isabelle’s calls.
Abby followed the younger girls orders, shoving her previous opponent over to Barry before heading to her left to engage with the large, rock covered bat thing crawling between the floor and the wall. It screeched at Abby, nearly deafening her. Abby tried her best to ignore it and lunged for the monster, sword first.
The bat monster hunched its back, bringing the rocks it carried on its back between it and her sword. Abby took the parry in stride, swinging her sword in a dramatic arc beside her body before slamming it down on one of the things' wings. It pulled away slightly, cutting its wing even further with its retreat. The wound opened up enough, and Isabelle launched a fireball.
It struck true, cauterizing the wound and causing the creature immense pain.
Abby occupied it for a little longer, creating more openings and throwing the creature off balance so Isabelle could deal with it safely. Once they were finished, Abby hurried to assist Barry, practically body slamming his opponents away to give them room to reorganize. She fought fiercely, acutely aware of her draining stamina.
I’m human. She thought to herself. I’m only human…
The dungeon was down to two hobgoblins. Human sized humanoids that could have originated from any number of bases. One had four arms, while the other just looked overly muscular, and each had deadly claws tipping their fingers and toes. Abby stepped between them and Barry, intent on finishing this fight herself. She expertly blocked, parried, and lopped off hands, pushing the two monsters back step by step. Unburdened by her usual shield and wielding a properly two handed sword, she spun the blade around, chopping and hacking her way through the enemy. They fought with desperation, as if it were their own lives on the line and not their dungeons.
Abby mercilessly slaughtered the both of them, never letting her guard down for a second. She stood in the renewed silence, breathing heavily. Sweat dripped down the side of her head. Deciding she was free from danger, she stood upright, wiping her cheek with the back of her wrist.
It came away with a streak of blood.
“Tch.” Abby rubbed the blood away, but all she probably did was smear it. She traced the blood up to her temple, and then a little bit further. She found the cut, nothing more than a little nick of the skin, high within her hair.
Barry and Isabelle were exhausted, Abby could tell. Neither were saying anything as they searched around the dungeons domain for its core. This would have gone a lot faster with Owyn’s necklace, but that wasn’t a luxury Abby had any more. She had very little in the way of luxuries nowadays, and a hell of a lot more responsibilities. The least of which was making sure she had food at the end of the day.
Barry and Isabelle were depending on her to keep them safe. That was twice as many people as she was used to protecting, and they were a hell of a lot less experienced than she was used to. Barry could hold his own, and he covered Isabelle's reckless mistakes well, but he shouldn’t have to. He should be able to depend on her as the backline while he did his job. Isabelle, while doing well to give out commands, equally shouldn’t have to. Their teamwork should be flawless at all times.
Swift Brook’s dungeon wasn’t some small, new dungeon like Setterton’s caves. It was a large maze, filled with wandering dungeons that actively sought out victims to grow their forces. They acted like adventurers in that way, preferring to stick to smaller numbers of highly evolved monsters. Those that did decide to remain stationary however were far more dangerous, due to the traps they set up and the vast numbers of thralls they commanded to compensate for the lack of travel.
Abby found this one's core soon enough. A fiery orange sphere. It reminded her of Lucid, even if the color was slightly off.
Submit! Kneel to me! It shouted as she picked it up in a gloved hand.
Abby considered it. Not the command of course, but the core as a whole. It was small, for Swift Brook’s mines. Smooth. It would be easy to swallow. Like a berry, or a grape.
DIE!
Abby tightened her grip, partially hiding it from her view. She closed her eyes.
No. Don’t even think about it. What would Owyn say?
…
Abby laughed to herself. Knowing Owyn, if he had the chance to evolve without the risk of enthrallment, he might just take it. The dungeon nut would prattle on and on about different animals and the paths of evolution they could take. He talked at length about what the most creative dungeons had created, rather than the ‘more arms’ route, or the ‘thumbs’ topic. Goddess, the thumbs. Tool manipulation was such a common occurrence for dungeons. One look at a human, and they tried to emulate their dexterous natures. Owyn would…
Abby shook her head, still trying her best to ignore the dungeon screaming in her head. She pocketed the core. “I found it. Let’s call it a day.”
Barry and Isabelle nodded, stretching in place. It’d been a long day, with hard fights. It was rare that they found a dungeon with less than five evolved monsters. The fights were long, exhausting ordeals. On average, they seemed to be able to defeat six dungeons a day. Far less than they were used to, but the fights were just so much harder that it was hard to argue to keep going. Besides, Isabelle was still walking with a slight limp. Not enough that it was really noticeable, but if you were looking for it, you could tell that something was wrong.
Abby would have to be careful with her. She needed the protection more than Barry did, even on her best day.
“Sucks that we have a tax.” Barry moaned. “Two cores, just to get in the dungeons!”
“It’s closer to a tariff.” Isabelle corrected. “Which is a kind of tax, but it matters to be accurate. Mom says that people can get really stickly with details.”
“Stickly?”
“You know, like, ‘a stickler for details.’ Stickly.”
“How do sticks play into that?”
“I don’t know.” Isabelle regarded her new wand. Genuinely, just a branch with her core tied to the end. “Maybe it’s a magic thing?”
“I don’t think sticks have anything to do with it.” Abby muttered, trying to keep quiet. They were still in a dungeon after all.
Do you want power?
Abby steeled her gaze, marching in step with the others as they argued about the origin of the word Isabelle had just made up.
Obey me. I will grant you unfathomable power. You will become stronger than any other being. Kill them.
Abby’s heart lurched with the suggestion. Her hand almost twitched enough to raise her sword.
No. She said.
The dungeon emitted a pleased feeling. A pleasurable feeling. An addicting feeling.
Obey me. Become powerful.
No.
Abby blindly followed Isabelle. The bright girl had memorized the layout of the parts of the abandoned mine that they’d explored so far. She was capable. Abby could trust her.
She watched Barry’s back. Strong and wide. The young boy was almost the same height as Abby, and he probably weighed more than her. His strong muscles were trained, both by experience with various weapons, and by his father, as Abby had come to learn. She could trust him.
She would keep them safe, and they would do the same. Together, they would survive this.
Several knights in the church's armor stood in the entrance to the mine. The two guards that had let them in were nowhere to be seen.
Abby froze, as well as Barry and Isabelle.
Isabelle cursed under her breath. “I knew we were taking too long.”
“We needed money, it’s not your fault.” Barry whispered back.
Nobody asked the question ‘what do we do?’ because they all knew the answer. Abby knew the answer. The only way out was forward.
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Obey me. The dungeon in her pocket whispered.
Abby remembered Owyn’s last message. Escape.
She stepped between the two younger adventurers, marching straight for the exit with a determined look. She gripped her sword a little tighter. Not too tight. Strong, but relaxed. Ready to fight. As they exited the mines, Abby distinctly felt the dungeon in her pocket collapse, tightening in on the core alone. She ignored its outrage, much more concentrated on the threat before her.
“Abby, Barry, and you must be Isabelle.” A priest stood between them and the knights. He addressed them warmly. “Welcome to my humble little town. You should have made yourselves known! We could have gone to mass together!”
“I’m not exactly the religious type.” Abby said, steadier than she felt.
“Yes, I should have known. Such are the thoughts of the small town folk.” The priest shook his head sadly. “It is unfortunate. We could have been friends.”
“What do you want?” Isabelle asked from behind Abby.
Good. That’s where she should be.
Abby held out a hand to stop Barry from stepping forward. If anyone was going to fight, it would be her. Barry knew Isabelle. They worked better as a team. Abby was the sore fit. Even if she were left behind, they could still complete the plan without her.
Obey me. The dungeon said forcefully.
The priest opened his hands out wide, disgustingly invitingly. “You’re far from home, lost children. Why don’t we help you go back?”
The knights behind the priest were shuffling in place. If Abby was not on edge, still riding the rush of combat from not too long ago, she might not have seen them begin to spread out.
Abby sneered angrily. “Do you even know what’s really going on? Or are you always like this.”
“Pardon me?”
“She’s asking you if you’re actually stupid, or if you’re just a dick!” Isabelle shouted.
“You’re holding an entire town hostage within a dungeon you’re cultivating. My friends are in there, MY-” Abby took a breath. She brought her sword across her body, holding it with both hands. “You’re evil. That’s all there is to it. Is that simple enough for you to understand?”
“Evil? My dear girl, we would never wish to harm anyone! We’re doing this to bring peace to the land!”
The knights on either side of the priest were becoming less subtle. Hands were resting in ready positions on their weapons. They were taking deliberate steps now, fanning out around them.
“I fail to see how killing people is excluded from harming them.” Isabelle growled. She got down into a ready position. One of her feet sat too close to Abby’s own. Before she could adjust however, Abby felt a touch of Isabelle's toes on her heel.
Two quick taps, on the right side. Abby kept her eyes trained forward but used her peripherals to check in that direction. There was a break in the bushes, unseeable from the priest's perspective. That would be their exit.
Barry and Isabelle’s exit.
The priest lowered his hands. “I see. You were not properly informed. Has the cardinal not told you why we’re doing this? While I’m sure he must have his reasons, I am not him. Perhaps you would be more agreeable if we just talked for a little while.”
The knights were closing in. Abby needed to cover their retreat. They needed to move now.
“I think we’re done listening to you.”
“Either you do as I say, or you suffer the consequences.”
RUN!
Bodies exploded into motion. Isabelle ran, as her station demanded, hard and fast, beelining for the exit she motioned for earlier. Barry stalled behind slightly, and Abby slightly more than that. The closest knight to her lunged, sword already drawn. Abby caught his sword with her crossguard, utilizing the leverage it afforded her to throw him to the center of the closing circle. The knight behind him shoved him out of the way, charging for the retreating kids.
Barry and Isabelle were already out of reach, meaning all Abby had to do was stand and fight to delay the knights. But every fiber of her being wanted to run. This was scary. This was life or death!
Abby ran, foolishly turning her back on her opponents to run after Barry and Isabelle.
“Take them alive!” The priest shouted from behind the brush.
Abby ran. She wanted to run with all her might, but she had to slow down for Isabelle. Still, in their light armor, they were faster than the bumbling knights through the thick bushes. A forest stretched ahead of them, further than the eye could see. Compared to the darkness of the mines, the outside world was well lit. Abby thundered across the rampant terrain. She deftly avoided the tall roots and snaring vines, practically without seeing them. She flew through the woods, faster than she could have ever done in a cave, even with Isabelle slowing them down.
Not fast enough.
A pair of knights were catching up behind them. The trail that they were blazing opened up enough space for the knights to not get snagged on the plants. Abby grit her teeth, cursing mentally.
She spun around lunging her blade for the closest knight. He dodged, and the other slowed down as well.
“GO!” Abby shouted desperately. She’d deal with these two before rejoining them. Or die trying.
You fool! The dungeon shouted. Run! Run!!
A rush filled Abby. She brought her sword in, parrying a low blow by the sword wielding knight. The other retreated slightly, pulling up a crossbow. Abby ignored him entirely, focusing her efforts on fully killing the armed knight. The crossbow guy wasn’t allowed to kill her.
His aim altered, pointing for her legs.
Barry smashed his mace into the machine, destroying it in a shower of splinters.
Secretly, Abby rejoiced.
“YOU FUCKER!” She shouted at him. “RUN! GO!”
The knight before her attacked, forcing Abby to pay closer attention. She swung her sword, and he did the same, meeting blades in the middle. Each deflected the other, and they took fractions of a second to recover. He attacked again, and Abby realized exactly how ill prepared she was to fight an armed knight. She could fight humans, probably even those with the same gear as the knight, but something about this fight was different. He was trained in swordplay. He was larger, stronger, faster, fresher, everything Abby was not. She probably had more experience in actual fights, but that was it. That was as far as her advantage went.
Perhaps the only reason she wasn’t dead yet was because he was ordered not to kill her.
Barry did not have these advantages. He may be a little larger than Abby, but he was wielding an unfamiliar weapon. Although the knight facing him was without his main weapon, he still had his knife, as well as all his training. Abby had to help him.
A fireball shot through the little clearing they were trampling. It struck Barry’s knight, but dissipated quickly. Abby grit her teeth, but she was forced to accept the situation. Of course they wouldn’t leave her behind. Of course, if she stayed to fight, so would they.
She redoubled her efforts against her knight. Her sword swung in wide arcs, yet still close to her body. She repeated the motions she remembered watching from the adventurers of her childhood, and observed closely the knight's responses. When he struck back, she parried as he did, pressing her advantage. She had to win. She had to beat him and help Barry.
Obey!
Abby hesitated, taking just a fraction of a second to deny the dungeon core. The swordsman noticed the hesitation and took full advantage, breaking Abby’s rhythm and swinging for the neck. He too, hesitated just before making contact.
“Surrender.” He commanded.
Abby gently placed her sword on the side of his knee, out of his sight. She drew back, pulling blood with her. The knight cried out in surprise, dropping to his now bum knee. Abby backed off and turned to help Barry.
Barry’s knight held Barry’s mace above them in one hand, and they struggled to fight for the knife in his other. Barry still hadn’t let go of his mace, which was the only reason the knight wasn’t beating him with it. The knight spun Barry around as he backpedaled, placing Barry between him and Abby and Isabelle. Abby hesitated, shifting left and right to try and find an opening she could take advantage of.
The knight backed into a hidden tree root, and both boys fell. Barry’s nose slammed against the knight's chestplate, coming away bloody. His grip had loosened on the knight's knife hand. The knight screamed in anger, punching the knife into Barry’s back.
Abby lunged for him, trying to shove her sword in his face, but the knight just drew back his knife and slammed it into Barry’s back again. Barry coughed, finally letting go of his mace to try and push away from the knight.
Abby shoved him off with her foot, holding her sword up in a reverse grip. She stood over the knight now, sword poised to kill. The knight, with his awkward high grip on the mace, deflected Abby’s blow, but not enough. Her sword reflected off his chestplate, sliding along the side of his neck. A fountain of blood burst out, a sure kill.
Isabelle was already under Barry’s arm, getting him to his feet. It was time to go.
Abby hurried to Barry’s other side, roughly bringing him to his feet by his arm. She hooked her arm under his and they ran. Barry struggled to pick his feet up, so they mostly dragged him away until he finally went limp.
“No. No…” He muttered wetly. He coughed, spewing blood into the leaves of the undergrowth.
“He’s bleeding too much!” Isabelle shouted.
“Down, down.” Abby stopped running, lowering Barry to the ground.
He laid face down in the dirt, coughing up blood. Isabelle held her wand over his back.
“Sorry! This is going to hurt!”
A fire bloomed just outside of her reach, burning against Barry’s back. Abby pressed down on his back, closing the wound as best she could. His skin sizzled and burned. Abby watched as his armor melted into his clothes beneath, and further into his bloody skin. Barry wasn’t screaming.
He limply reached his hand up, resting it on Isabelle’s ankle. He didn’t move his face as he spoke to her.
“Go… Live…”
Abby pressed harder on his back. Isabelle’s fire burned the first wound shut, and she quickly moved on to the other.
“No- NO! Barry come on, you’re tough! Come on, you gotta-” Isabelle’s tears choked her up. “Barry. Come on…”
Abby’s throat tightened so much she was surprised she could get words out. “He’s…” Abby’s grip relaxed. “He’s…”
She shut her eyes tightly, remembering her responsibilities. She got to a crouch, grabbing Isabelle’s arm.
“Let’s go.”
“NO!” Isabelle shouted, but she only really put up a weak token effort. She knew their lives were in just as much danger as his was.
“Over there!”
“NO!” Isabelle screamed.
Abby ran, eyes straight ahead. She felt the fire build behind her as she dragged Isabelle away. She felt it disappear again as her fireball was launched into the forest. The fire built again, and again it retreated behind them. Again and again, Abby felt this fire build and disappear behind them, covering their mistakes. Their tracks. The fire burned through a forest that hadn’t seen rain in so long. It caught, and it covered their escape.
Abby held back her tears, and Isabelle finally caught her feet. She kept stride with the exhausted Abby, and together, they ran.