Payten and his master crouched low in the bushes near the east wall of Longdale, having decided to bypass the heavily guarded gate of the city. There they waited until the sky turned red, and the sun slowly began to sink below the horizon.
“Get ready to move, Lad. There are guards posted on walls, it will get complicated If one sees us skulking about.” Hark said eyes fixed on the distant silhouettes backlit by fading sunlight and flickering torches. Soon only dim moonlight illuminated the ground, “Keep to the shadows and stay low” whispered his master as he began to work his way towards the wall. Payten pulled his cloak close and followed as anxiety bubbled in his stomach. He was no stranger to sneaking around, he had spent most of his life trying to avoid attention, but there was a large difference between dodging angry bumpkins and armed guards alert for an attack.
Praying to every god he knew he crept behind his master, eyes straining to see in the low light. One careful footstep at a time the pair grew closer to the wall, the details of sentinels slowly became visible. His throat tightened, even from this distance he could make out the T-shaped crossbows they carried, he froze in place as he imagined the feeling of a bolt ripping through his flesh. For an agonizingly long moment, his body would not move as he crouched among the high grass until his master’s words rose into his mind :
“You must kill your panic and never let it seize your mind” It was happening again, he was being controlled by his fear, just like the time he had been overwhelmed by the vitus in the forest. He had promised himself he would never again be the scared, bullied outcast from Wheatblanket, and yet here he was paralyzed into being prime crossbow bait. He gritted his teeth and powered through his fear. Just as he took a step...
*BROOOOOOWWWWN*
An ear-piercing horn blast erupted from the top of the wall, Payten drew his hunting knife and rolled to his left, dropping to his belly. He covered his head and braced for the rain of crossbow bolts.
A moment passed
Then another,
He looked up and saw Hark making his way towards him.
“Fear not lad, one blast of the horn signals a guard change, if they saw us it would have been three blasts” his master whispered.
“You couldn't have warned me?”
“I did not think it relevant”
Grumbling under his breath he rose and brushed the dirt off his clothes the best he could and resumed prowling towards the wall. Thankfully, they soon arrived at the wall, a rusty metal grate blocked a tunnel that snaked under the wall.
Hark stepped forward and placed his hand against the lock, he closed his eyes for a moment before a gentle *click* cut into the still night air.
Payten cringed at the whaling grind that filled his ears as Hark lifted the grate,
“Relax, I speak from much experience when I say city guards are much less competent than you think.” With that Hark stuck his foot down onto the rung of the suspect looking ladder and climbed down into the darkness of the sewers. Payten moved to follow, and swallowed hard when he felt the wood of the ladder creak under his weight, he quickly scampered down into the pitch blackness.
He gagged as the hot sewer air reached his nose. He reached the bottom and stumbled on a thin layer of slime that coated the stone floor. He flailed around in the dark for a few moments before Hark tapped on his shoulder and pressed something into his hand.
“Eat that, lad. It will help your vision”
Payen felt the small smooth object in his hand, before popping it in his mouth. The herbal bitter taste filled his mouth. True to his master’s word the utter darkness soon gave way to dim light. He looked around at the cracked stone walls on which a tapestry of multi-colored fungi and molds was woven into the lines and wear, creating a strangely beautiful if not revolting image. He could not, however, find any redeeming qualities in the brownish river of filth that split the sewer in twain.
“Master, do you have anything for the smell.” He said, holding in a retch. The foul air was making Payten’s head swim and bile rise up up his throat.
“No I do not, consider adapting to the smell part of your training. You’ll thank me for it when your elbow deep in a bloated corpse, lad.”
He doubted that he would ever be thankful for the experience, but he saw no point in complaining.
“What now master?”
“Wait here, monsters sometimes crawl their way up from the veins of the world into sewers, which also means the occasional guard patrol. We are in a precarious position, lad. I want to be as cautious as possible, so I will make sure the way is clear.”
“I’ll try to stay out of trouble”
“Good, lad”
***
Payten estimated his master had been gone for roughly five minutes and he was already bored out of his skull. He had tried reading his books but even with his low light vision, it was still too dim to read comfortably. He looked around for something to occupy his time, but he saw nothing but filth and stone. He sighed and decided to spend his time training, as he looked for the cleanest place to sit he heard a subtle *pat pat pat* somewhere to his left. He drew his knife and turned to face whatever creature was sneaking upon him.
He saw a rat, the rat saw him. They both froze for a moment, Payten realizing he was not in danger put his knife away, confident that even he could take on a rat unarmed. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bit of dried sausage he had saved and tossed it to the rodent. Its legs tensed prepared to flee from the giant, but when it saw that he made no further moves, it cautiously approached the sausage. After a brief sniff, it snatched the meat in its jaws and scampered away.
There’s my good deed for the day
He returned to searching for a spot not stained with filth. Just when he found a corner barely approaching acceptability he once again heard the slapping of rat feet, he turned expecting to see his new rat friend.
Yaza help me, the sewer fumes are driving me mad
He did indeed see the same rat he had fed this time not alone, flanking it were the two strangest rats Pate had ever seen. The leftmost one was snow white and rode atop a squirrel dressed in armor made from twine and offcuts of wood. In its left paw was a shield, its right held a lance made from a nail. The rightmost rat, however, held the prestigious position of being the strangest of the group. It stood on a platform mounted to the back of a spider larger than his hand, its deep brown fur was marked with silver scars that crossed its body, it held a club made of bone in its left hand, the right paw was missing, in its place was a metal thimble lashed to its arm with twine.
All right, stay calm and think about this rationally. Illusions? No, why would anyone try to deceive me use warrior rats? Sewer fumes? I feel fine, but maybe that’s a symptom. It’s real? Seems unlikely, but is this even the weirdest thing I have seen?
The rats chittered at him and then bowed, before waving their paws, gesturing for him to follow.
Okay, maybe this is too weird to be true. The smart thing would be to stay and wait for Hark, but his curiosity burned, if he did not investigate the rats he would not be able to sleep.
Well, what’s the worst that could happen. He shrugged and signaled for the rats to lead the way.
***
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
As he walked alongside his rodent escort deeper into the sewer the sheer stupidity of his decision hit him. He was following magical beasts deeper into territory he was unfamiliar with. What if they led him into an ambush, would Hark ever find his body? Still, his mind burned to discover what the rats wanted with him. Eventually, they took him down a side passage that led to an open room.
Payten’s jaw went slack. Within the chamber were vermin of all sizes and shapes, many dressed in colorful pieces of trash. Most eye-catching was the throne in the center, made from refuse he couldn't even begin to identify. Lounging in the throne was a creature that could only be described as horrifying. It’s long lower body was that of a centipede with the legs of a spider, the torso segments widened into the rounded shelled body of a beetle with six rat-like arms and translucent insect wings. Its snake neck split in three, each was topped with a head, the first a viper, the third a wasp, the middle a rat head that dwarfed the others. From each grew a crown of chitin. In one of its hands it held the sausage.
It has to be sewer fumes
“Welcome to my court, noble traveler. Your generous tribute has been readily accepted” The creature spoke with the vibrating hum of a swarm of insects.
On the off chance that this was real and not a hallucination, Payten decided to do what he did best, roll with it.
“I am filled with joy that my gift has been received by such a royal presence, may I have the honor of knowing to whom I speak?” He said offering a quick bow.
The creature clapped all three pairs of its hands together and rose to its full height, bringing its eye level to his waist. “It is rare to have a guest with such splendid manners. I am Rhastgat, King of Vermin, lord of all that skitters and crawls, and who might you be nobel traveler?”
.
“I am Payten, King of nothing, and lord of no one. I am honored to make the acquaintance of one with such a majestic bearing.”
“It is my pleasure to receive you, noble Payten. What brings a topsider like yourself to my domain?”
“Just passing through, I meant no offense to one as uhh... skitterours as yourself.”
“None taken, your tribute was more than sufficient. I name you a guest of my court, may you enjoy your time in my kingdom” The viper head darted forward and swallowed the sausage whole.
“I appreciate your hospitality, King Rhastgat.” said Payten with another bow.
“Nobel Payten, It is fortuitous that you would come to me at such a time, for a time now I have been looking for a brave soul to undergo a quest. Of course, if you choose to accept and succeed you will be handsomely rewarded.”
There it is, always a catch with nobles, but I could at least hear him out and run like the hells if negotiations turn sour.
“What would you have me do?”
“A terrible beast has moved near my kingdom and been slaughtering my subjects, even my greatest warriors fell before its claws. I beg you noble Payten, slay the beast, end the needless death of my people.” The Vermin king’s voice buzzed with sorry as he spoke.
“What kind of beast?” He was sure that he would deny Rhastgat’s request, he was no fighter. But if there was a powerful monster down here it would benefit him to know about it.
“Hellish yellow eyes, fangs like swords, claws like daggers, a long hairless body that can slip down our borrows and eat our young. It is truly a fearsome beast, Noble Payten.”
That sounded very bad, Payten doubted he could face such a beast alone, if it was as dangerous as Rhastgat said, it could be a threat to all of Longdale. Perhaps he should seek out Hark and tell him what he had discovered.
“Please, your most verminous, if you know anything more about this beast tell me.”
“Of course, It makes its lair not far from here, in a barrel left here by topsiders long ago.”
It lives in a barrel?
“How large is the beast, your majesty?”
“Far larger than any of my subjects, though far from your enormity, Noble Payten. Reared back on its hind legs it would reach your knees. It may seem small to one such as yourself, but the corpses of my countrymen prove just how deadly this foul beast can be.”
Thank Yaza. Payten had pictured a terrible monster in the same vein as Hark’s shade or Kindness, but if it was smaller than his knee, what was the worst that could happen?
“You mentioned a reward, your grace?”
“Yes, slay the fiend and reap a handsome bounty.” Rhastgat squeaked and four rats holding poles that supported a jewelry box stepped from the shadows and set it between the vermin king and Payten. With two paws the jewelry box was opened. It was stuffed with rings, necklaces, and other shiny trinkets.
“Trophies from our raids on the topside, some are possessed of minor enchantments. All will be yours in exchange for the beast’s death.”
Payten stared at the box, the shine and luster called to him like a siren. He was no jeweler and could not even begin to guess the worth of the treasure before him, still, it was likely more than the combined wealth of all of Wheatblanket. Plus, the chance to possess and study magic items was not one he could easily overlook.
The least I could do is take a look.
It was a bad idea, but by all the gods did he love trinkets.
“I will see the creature with my own eyes before I make a decision. Your most uhh … crawlness.”
“Very well most honored guest, Irontooth and Sir Rodney will accompany you. I pray that you end the suffering of my people, May the BurrowMaw bring you back safe, Noble Payten.”
With that, the same rats that led him to The vermin king’s court gestured for him to follow.
***
After a brief hike through the twisting and snaking tunnels of the sewers, the squirrel rider raised his paw signaling a stop. Him and his escorts then engaged in a frustrating yet strangely adorable game of charades, in which they conveyed to him that either, the beast lay around the corner or that he should dunk his head into the sewage.
Reluctant to go neck-deep in a river of filth, he pressed against the wall and peeked around the corner. He saw a rotted barrel surrounded by tiny bones and rat skulls, he stepped forward drawing his knife, eyes shifting for any sign of the beast. He walked towards the nest, knife at the ready to lash out. He saw a hole in the front of the barrel, he crouched beside the opening, knife at the ready to stab whatever came out, and slammed his fist against the decaying wood.
He waited a moment, nothing. He hammered on the barrel causing the rotting wood to splinter and crack, still nothing.
*SQREEEEE* a scream came from behind him. He turned and saw his two escorts screaming and trying to get his attention, he looked up and saw the beast. Its yellow eyes narrowed as its long hairless body tensed, in its maw, it carried a limp rat. Dropping its prey it hissed at Payten.
The Vermin King’s description had worried Payten but now that he was face to face with the beast, he found it very underwhelming. True it did have sharp and narrow teeth and claws, however, they resembled sewing needles rather than spears. While on its hind legs it may have reached his knees, on all fours it was just a few inches taller than one of his rat companions. Payten walked towards it knife in hand, It lunged towards uncoiling its body as its teeth sunk into his ankle.
He cried out in pain and kicked the creature in its side, it went flying and cracked against the stone wall. As he bent over to inspect his wound, the squirrel rider let out a battle cry and drove its heels into the side of his mount, it charged the dazed creature and slammed the nail lance into exposed belly flesh. The creature wailed and thrashed, it rose up and slammed its paw into the little lancer’s chest, knocking it from its mount and pinning it to the ground. The creature’s jaws darted forward the lancer’s shield rose to meet it. As the rat struggled against the beast’s weight.
Well if it worked so well the first time …
He ran forward and kicked the creature as hard as he could, freeing his companion and once more sending the hairless bastard crashing into the wall. This time Payten followed and dropping to one knee finished the beast with a stab of his knife. Both rats gave a cry of victory and held their weapons up high then bowed deeply.
That went better than expected. Feeling quite proud at ending the rats’ plight he picked up the creature and slung it over his shoulder. His escorts knelt by the dead rat and began loading its body onto the spider. Payten reached into his bag and removed the burlap that he bundled his possessions in all those weeks ago and approached the body. He knelt down and gently moved his rat companion asides, he wrapped the body in the cloth and cupped it in his palms. They nodded at him in approval and gestured for him to follow.
***
“Noble Payten, I did not expect your return so soon, Ahhh is that what I think it is?”
“Indeed your highness, I have killed the creature and freed your subjects from its tyranny”
Rhasgat clapped his paws, “Truly you bring good tidings, I wish to confer with my subjects before we discuss the matter further.”
Payten stood awkwardly with a dead creature across his shoulder and a dead rat in his hands, as his escorts and the king squeaked at each other.
“I am astounded, my most noble guest. Not only did you slay that foul beast, but you saved the life of Sir Rodney and saw fit to return our dead, for going above and beyond the call of duty I wish to grant you an extra gift. Please kneel, noble Payten.”
Rolling with it had gotten him this far, why stop now?
He knelt before the Vermin king as it reached behind its throne and pulled out a scepter made from the finest refuse. “Payten for your heroics in defense of my subjects, I grant you the title of knight of the Vermin Court, rise Sir Payten.” As Rhastgat touched his scepter to Payten’s shoulder he felt a rush of power fill his chest, his vision swam as he stumbled up. Suddenly, the court broke out in an uproarious round of squeaks and squeals, yet he was able to understand.
“Hail Sir Payten the beast slayer!”
“Long Live good king Rhastgat”
“Death to young slayers”
Please be real, not caused by sewer fumes
“Sir Payten, Please take your reward.”
He stared blankly, mind whirring to figure out what just happened.
The Vermin king made a sound similar to a throat-clearing if done by a swarm of locusts.
He absent-mindedly set down the rat corpses, scooping up the jewelry box in its place.
“Good king, I mean no offense but what did you do to me?”
“None taken, I have granted you a rank of nobility and along with it the benefits it entails. Not only are you able to speak to that which skitters and crawls, but vermin will recognize you as nobility and as such treat you with the respect and deference appropriate to your station.”
“Uhh... I thank you for your most gracious gift.”
Through his bewilderment excitement started to bubble up, he was possessed with the urge to try his new ability and test his limits. He wondered how useful his new ability would be. Were all rats this smart? He hoped not, he had helped his Uncle kill a fair few at the farmstead. He couldn't wait to tell Hark and question him about his strange experience.
Oh shit, Hark.
“My most royal lord, I beg your forgiveness but I really must be going.” He hoped that Hark had not yet returned.
“Of course I wish you blessed travels, Sir Payten, but I believe there is one more matter to discuss.”
With that the Little Lancer stepped forward and dropped to one knee, “Sir Payten the beast slayer you saved my life, if you were not there I surely would have met my end. I thank you from the bottom of my heart”
“No problem it was the least I could do.”
“You speak too lightly, A life debt is owed and must be repaid, on my honor I wish to swear myself to you as your humble servant and bodyguard to protect your life as you have mine”
“That's not necessary. Really I just kicked a small animal to death, I don't think that's the type of behavior that you should be rewarding.”
“Nonsense, It may have a trivial matter to you, but you saved untold lives of my kinfolk. I beg you, let me repay my debt.”
“Okay, sure why not” He had spent far too long away from where his master had told him to stay, he did not have the time to argue with a rat.
“I Sir Rodney, swear upon my honor to be your shield, sword, and faithful servant in all your pursuits.”
Upon Rodney finishing his vows, Payten felt a small pulse of power in his chest,
“Well said, but I can’t stress enough that I must be going.”
“Very well Sir Payten, May the tunnels carry you to fortune and safety. Take care of Sir Rodney and he will serve you well.”
He said his goodbyes to the Vermin King’s court and with Sir Rodney and his faithful mount at his side, sprinted towards where his master had left him.