Novels2Search
The Bard's Odyssey
Chapter Nine: Entering the Dungeon

Chapter Nine: Entering the Dungeon

“Greed kills more adventurers than monsters.” -A saying among the Guild staff.

“Calista can you stop mumbling prayers and properly row this boat.”

“If you would put your book away and help us. Maybe I wouldn’t have to pray that we arrive by sundown!”

“Barrin, I know your little arms can barely reach the oar but can you at least try to row harder.”

“Yes sir… Simon, do you mind taking over? I have to tune my lute before we arrive.”

“Oh yea, of course.”

Taking over the halflings position he began to row in sync with the others glad to have something to focus on besides the group’s arguing. It had been about an hour since they’d left the Guild and it had given him ample time to understand the group’s dynamics.

Gadar the unofficial leader and brute of a warrior was as loudmouthed and battle driven as anyone he’d ever met. He had boasted about previous expeditions where he described the monsters he fought with a grinning tusked smile. Remus the horned mage was as uncaring as he was pretentious. He hadn’t so much as lifted a hand to help row instead keeping his nose deep in an old tome. Calista the group’s healer was a cleric of the city. She seemed to always be lost in prayer of one kind or another, often ignoring the conversation around her. Barrin was well… a punching bag. He was the butt of all the group's jokes and he seemed to never stand up for himself.

Their destination drew closer as they reached the edge of the lake outside the city. The place they were headed for was a tan-walled fortress outside on the mainland with a black structure resting at its heart. It was hard to tell what it was from their distance but it loomed several times taller than the tan walls meant to contain it. It contrasted greatly with the blue lake, tan walls, and greenery of the surrounding environment.

Once they drifted close enough, Gadar directed the canoe to a bustling dock that lay outside the fortress. After some minor arguing after Gadar got some water on Remus’s book they finally docked off at their destination. Once they tied off their canoe they walked along the dock to a gated opening in the fortress. Several other adventuring teams waited in line as they showed the badges to the guards for entry.

Pulling out the badge Bessra had given him he showed it to the guard when they eventually made it to the front. Passing through the shadowed gate with the others he held his hand up to the blinding sun once they entered back into the light. Blinking away the spots Simon shaded his eyes with his hand and got his first look up close at the Dungeon.

It was unnatural.

At the heart of the fortress loomed an anthill of darkened obsidian that seemed to defy the light reflecting off of it. The fortress did not merely contain the Dungeon but rather warped and bent in a semblance of security around the absurd structure. The sheer size and weight of it made him think that it couldn’t possibly be made by humans. Several openings spotted the anthill-like structure as adventurers in a constant stream entered its ominous entrances. He had heard rumors that the Dungeon was a prison for a being known as a Titan. But what kind of prisoner warrants this kind of monstrosity to contain it? And we're going in there, he thought.

He felt someone nudge him, breaking him out of his growing apprehension. “Hey, Simon. Are you okay? You look out of it.” said Barrin, pulling back his hand.

“What? Oh, sorry Barrin.” Tearing his eyes from the Dungeon he looked down at Barrin, “I’m okay, it’s just daunting to see it up close.”

“Your reaction was pretty normal, new adventures always freeze whenever they first see a Dungeon,” said Barrin as they both caught up to the rest of the group waiting in line before a large opening in the black hill. Sheepishly, he fiddled with the strings on his lute as he continued, “The feeling never truly goes away. No matter how many times we venture inside there’s always a feeling of uneasiness.”

They stood together in silence as they inched closer in line, the weight of his words hadn’t done much to settle his own nerves. A scream and cries for help rang out cutting through the idle chit-chat of the teams around them. Alarmed he moved closer to get a better look. He watched as a bloody warrior in tattered armor dragged an unmoving corpse into the square. What looked like a wizard limped behind him crying for help as she used a wooden staff to hold herself up. Guards and robed clerics rushed to the three’s side and began glowing with magic.

Simon's stomach churned as he witnessed the bloody gash across the warrior’s chest begin to close. Simon watched as the wounds on two of the members began to be healed but the third unmoving figure didn’t stir. The cleric kneeling next to the body shook his head and spoke to the two others. In the middle of the square, the warrior and wizard began to cry over the corpse of their dead friend. But the most troubling thing he noticed was that the rest of the crowd went about their day like nothing was wrong.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Why is everyone ignoring them?” asked Simon to the group around him. Catching Gadar’s brown eyes he pleaded with him for an answer.

“Listen, kid. This is a tough profession and not everyone makes it out unscathed. They should feel lucky for escaping with their lives.” Gadar stated, his tone serious.

Remus spoke while he kept his eyes on his book, “Once we're inside, don’t get in the way. Our job is to ensure you don’t die not get hurt. I am not losing out on my book funds because you died being foolish.”

Simon didn’t like their answers but their tone spoke to the experience they had in traversing this Hell. Letting out a breath, he nodded in understanding. The two turned away satisfied with his assent and chit-chatted about what branch they should take. Trying to get his mind off what he had seen he observed the others around him. A team exited the Dungeon from one of the highest tunnel openings starting to climb down a knotted rope. A vendor lay in the shade of the walls as he conducted business selling a variety of weapons sprawled on a blanket.

What caught his eye though was a duo of guards yelling at a swordsman who stared calmly back at them. He was a dark-skinned young man donning a flowing white robe, with armor intricately woven into strategic areas. Resting on his back was a long, curved sword, partially obscuring a symbol that he couldn't discern from this distance. Facing the guard he wore a mask of calm. Simon’s group had moved up enough in line to be able to overhear the one-sided exchange clearly.

“Where’s your team Heretic? You think your brave for venturing inside this hellhole alone. Not like you have a choice, who’d want to risk catching your curse.” said the bearded guard as he poked a tanned finger into the swordsman's chest.

Ooh, I bet he’ll knock the guard's lights out.

In response, the dark-skinned warrior merely looked down at his finger and raised an eyebrow in responding silence. Simon bit back a laugh as the guard became red-faced at his lack of reaction. The guard threw a punch at the swordsman before his companion could stop him. Before the blow landed with the same calm face he’d worn the whole time, the swordsman leaned to the right barely dodging the punch. He has to punch him now, he tried hitting him! Instead, laughably the swordsman raised his other eyebrow in question that mocked the guard’s foolish attempt at violence.

It was too much for Simon as he couldn’t hold in his amusement anymore, he laughed for all to hear. It was while he was laughing that he noticed no others had found the matter humorous. Instead, the crowd was silent. Oh, come on. That was hilarious. When he looked at the adventurers around him he didn’t see the amusement on their faces but rather hostility. They were staring daggers at the dark-skinned swordsman as they muttered comments filled with disdain and contempt.

“Fucking Heretics,” spat Gadar to his side. “He'll have stolen all the essence by the time we get in there.”

“Let us pray he never comes out of the Dungeon,” said Calista, her hands clutching the sun necklace.

Simon felt uncomfortable hearing the hate-filled voices of his companions. He watched as the one called a Heretic walked confidently toward the cavernous opening of the Dungeon. Before he passed under the shadows and left the light of the sun behind he looked back. His eyes scanned the crowd until they met his own. For a moment the two stared at one another. In that fleeting moment, Simon felt as if he could see beyond the façade he presented to the world. Abruptly, the swordsman turned and ventured alone into the dark tunnel, not looking back. The darkness of the tunnel seemed to swallow him almost as if he was never really there.

For an instant, it was as though the mask he wore had cracked, revealing the profound loneliness he sought to conceal behind a façade of serenity.

"Barrin, who was that swordsman?" Simon whispered, careful not to let the others overhear.

"Oh, that one. You'd do well to steer clear of him," Barrin whispered back. "They're demons on the battlefield. I heard they worship combat alone in the desert where the Gods exiled them. They called themselves Wardens.” With a chuckle, he shook his head and continued. “They say their duty is to guard the Dungeons. Who’d feel safe having them protect us? It's best to avoid crossing paths with them."

Simon couldn't dwell on the matter any longer as they began entering the tunnel after presenting their badges. Sunlight swiftly faded, leaving only the faint glow of crystals embedded in the obsidian walls to illuminate the way. Side tunnels branched off intermittently, making it feel like a labyrinth. One wrong turn and we could easily get lost, he thought. As they walked, the echoes of roars and the clamor of battle reached his ears, causing the hairs on his arms to stand on end. After about ten minutes of walking, Gadar abruptly halted and raised his hand, signaling for them to stop. Simon scanned the surroundings, curious as to why they had come to a standstill. He couldn't spot anything ahead of them.

Remus lifted his wand, and light materialized at its tip, forming a concentrated burst of mana that shot ahead. As the bolt traveled, it illuminated the tunnel walls and exploded upon striking its target. Fear began to stir in his chest as the bolt unveiled what he had failed to see—a pack of red-eyed beasts, standing upright on two legs, with matted fur and menacing claws, crouching behind boulders, lying in wait. Howls reverberated through the tunnel as the red-eyed monsters charged out of their concealed positions. In the dim glow of the tunnel red eyes shone brightly as they moved closer to the awaiting party.

Everyone began swiftly preparing their weapons to face the impending threat, and with trembling hands, Simon drew his own dagger. It felt inadequate for the fight to come. He briefly envisioned the screaming cries of the adventurers outside who had been called lucky to have made it out alive. Standing before a pack of incoming monsters, the faint hope that this world might not be as perilous as Azrael had warned was extinguished as he braced himself to fight for his life.