Chapter 59 – A troll, a halfling and a dark elf walk into a park
Fas's face changed to one that looked like they had sucked on a lemon as he drank the poison. He then gathered himself and looked over at Urani before collapsing to his knees, grabbing his stomach, and letting out a rather unpleasant sound. A wave of panic hit SJ as her friend and guardian writhed in agony on the platform.
Urani started to laugh. "I knew this was a hoax. Oline come finish this pathetic being."
The halfling appeared again from the trees and started to make his way over. Fas still lay on the ground, groaning. As Oline neared Fas, SJ beat her wings to lift from the branch; she had to do something.
Oline drew a short sword as he approached and lifted his sword, ready to deal a killing blow. That was when Fas reacted. As the blade came down towards him, he spun on the ground, rising and grabbed Oline's forearm, the blade freezing mid-swing as he started to laugh.
Urani frowned as Fas pushed himself fully upright, still gripping Oline's forearm in a vice-like grip, lifting the halfling off his feet and holding him at arm's length like a rag doll. The halfling had gone from looking exceedingly confident to that of a panicked expression, kicking and screaming obscenities at Fas.
Fas shook him until the sword fell from his grip. There was a growl from behind Urani in the treeline, and Tsongy stepped into view.
"I was only pretending," Cortisar said, looking over the stunned halfling and smiling at Urani. "If you think a little poison could affect an immortal being such as myself, you are very mistaken."
Urani's mouth dropped open in shock, as SJ breathed a sigh of relief, settling back down on the branch and swore she would speak to Fas about him scaring the life out of her when this was all over.
"Release him," Urani said.
"He was attempting to attack me; why should I release him? He is one of your followers. I have no use for a being of his stature," he chuckled.
"Put him down," Tsongy growled from behind Urani.
"Tsongy, no," Urani said, lifting her hand to stop him.
Fas flicked his wrist, sending the halfling sailing through the air to crash onto the platform.
“I would just like to say, that I knew Fas was faking it,” Dave said.
Liar.
“Of course it was obvious,” Dave tutted.
SJ knew Fas was strong, but had never seen him perform such a stunt before, lifting a being at arm's length and then throwing it as though it were a ball of paper.
"You're much stronger than you used to be," Urani said.
"Immortality has its perks."
SJ could see the twinkle in Urani's eyes; she was desperate for this power.
"Give me this power," Urani said.
"Why? What do I get in return?" Cortisar said. "There is little you could offer me that I would ever want. If I want something, I can just take it after all; no one can stop me."
"How about your old position as my right hand?" Urani said.
"You believe I would share this power to be second place?" Cortisar laughed.
Urani's face screwed up, her beauty vanishing as a snarl appeared. Her true nature was coming through. She then calmed herself before she replied. "I would give you your own district to do as you see fit."
"Just one? For eternal life?" Cortisar tilted his head, pondering her comment. "No."
"Two then," Urani said.
"I believe a fair exchange would be six; we can share the city between us."
Urani baulked. "I can't do that. Only six are mine in full to do with as I wish."
"Ah, so he is still here, even after this time. We always hoped he would get bored and move away when he first arrived."
"Yes, he is," Urani replied. There was only one 'he' that Urani could be referring to.
"Perhaps it's time to deal with him then," Cortisar mused, scratching his cheek.
That comment made Urani laugh. "You are a fool if you think you can take him on. Don't you think over the years I haven't considered it?"
"I'm sure you have, but with immortality on our side, he couldn't harm either of us."
Urani now stood silently as she thought over Cortisar's words.
Oline, who had been crouched since he recovered from being thrown across the platform, suddenly let out a gasping sound. His eyes opened in shock as his body began convulsing.
Both Tsongy and Urani turned to look at him.
"Oh, I should have said I sent some of the poison into him," Cortisar smiled.
Oline collapsed forward onto the platform, convulsing, a white foam appearing at his mouth.
"Heal him," Urani spat at Cortisar.
Cortisar waved his hand dismissively. "He'll be fine. I only gave him a tiny fraction of his own medicine. That's why it's taken so long to act on him."
Urani and Tsongy stared at him as the wave of convulsions passed. Eventually, leaving the halfling lying there groaning, but obviously still alive.
"You still like your games," Urani said, turning on Cortisar.
"Of course," he smiled.
"Three, and we can consider the other option at a later time," Urani said, returning to negotiations.
Cortisar stood for a few moments before he replied. "I suppose it's a starting point. Perhaps we can work with that for now."
Urani allowed a smile to slip onto her face for the briefest moment. "Good. Then what do we need to do?"
Cortisar took a step towards Urani; it was the closest the pair had come to each other.
This was the moment SJ had been waiting for. As soon as Fas neared her, SJ would strike. She lifted from the branch, hovering, as Tsongy stepped onto the platform and knelt next to Oline. His massive form hid the halfling from her sight.
"Give me your hand," Cortisar held his out towards Urani. "And I suggest you drop the shield," he added casually.
SJ took off; it was now or never. As soon as the shield dropped, she needed to strike.
As SJ flew towards Urani's back, she had switched to her mana vision and could see the outline surrounding Urani fading as she lifted her hand towards Fas. Tsongy stood, lifting Oline in his arms. The halfling was still groaning from the effects of the poison.
SJ adjusted her angle of approach, swooping down before moving upwards, her one focus the nape of the Chief's neck. Cortisar and Urani's hands touched as SJ struck. Her miniature claws pierced her skin with ease. Urani cried in shock as SJ grew.
Urani's shield instantly triggered; SJ's vision started to flood with the red outline of mana. The magistika on her claws began its work as the shield flickered, unable to take hold. The ability the substance had to negate the use of mana was impressive.
Tsongy's head spun around as SJ appeared, her claws doing their assigned task. Fas smiled at Urani, still holding her hand, her eyes wide in shock and panic. Fas reached over and pulled his sleeve up with his free hand. SJ wished she could have seen Urani's expression as the dragon tattoo, Fas's only true method of identification, became visible. An immediate blue lightning started to form around her hand, but it was too late, as Fas grimaced before it suddenly faded again.
"You," Urani managed to force from her lips as she fell forward to her knees, SJ crashing to the platform with her, in a tangle of limbs, her claws still embedded.
The next sound was a roar that only an angry troll could make as Tsongy screamed in fury. His face contorted as he spewed words, dropping Oline in an instant as he raised his hands.
The crushing weight that hit them was like nothing SJ had ever felt before. It was as though her body had suddenly become fifty times heavier, as the spell Tsongy cast filled the area. Fas, SJ and Oline were all pushed down into the ground as though the weight of a building had fallen on them. SJ gasped in shock; her chest felt crushed, she was unable to move, her arms pinned at a forced angle where her claws were still embedded. The pain was excruciating; it was impossible for her to move, and she thought her wrists might snap. The only thing she could do was unequip her claws. As soon as she did, her arms flew to the ground; the pressure was impossible to resist.
Fas was in no better shape; his prostrated form and twisted face one of pain.
The roar from Tsongy came again as he stepped forward, a short sword appearing in his hand, which for a troll of his size looked more like a dagger.
SJ was the closest target, and panic flooded her as he approached.
That was when she spotted movement in her vision, a shadowy form moving with a grace and ease that defied the laws of nature. There was no way a being could resist this tremendous pressure, but he did. Liam seemed to float across the ground, showing no signs of the spell's effects. SJ initially thought it must have a limited area of effect, but Fas had previously mentioned he had quietened the whole cage-fighting arena before with this same spell.
He struck as fast as a spider, an instant move that sent him flying into the troll's lower back. It would have been head height on a normal being. Tsongy grunted from the impact, and SJ noticed the slightest lessening in pressure. It was an actively maintained spell.
Liam turned into a whirlwind of visceral energy, the speed of his movements almost invisible to her eyes, as he administered punch after punch and kick after kick against the troll. The spell gradually started to fade as Tsongy attempted to turn and deal with his assaulter.
Liam didn't stop, as he continued to pummel and disorient the troll, who was unable to get any movement off without feeling the impact of a strike of some form. SJ gasped as air flooded back into her lungs. Tsongy was taking damage, but it was minimal. Although SJ had never fought a troll directly, she knew that they had ridiculous regeneration capabilities. Although Liam was damaging the troll, he was unable to reach very high on the troll's body; the attacks hit only its lower half. A kick struck the troll's knee, and it buckled slightly as the troll leaned forward to regain his balance.
"Finish him," Fas said through a grimace from where he was still prostrated. SJ could see that Fas's facial appearance had changed; he was no longer Cortisar, but a mix of several beings. The effects of the spell must have messed with his transformation ability.
SJ pushed herself to her feet and triggered her skill set. As part of reaching level thirty, she had aligned her auto-triggers. Selecting the second of three options, she had configured it. Shroud triggered, then Void Grasp; the troll froze in place. SJ triggered Shadow Step and Puncture, closing the distance in an instant, aiming for his neck. Shadow stepping at a target like this was never the most accurate of actions, and as she appeared, her claws struck between Tsongy's shoulder blades. A roar of pain left the troll's lips as SJ embedded her claws fully. Tsongy was now crouched on one knee as Liam continued to strike him, a sheen of sweat clear on Liam's face; his movements were still almost imperceptible. To the naked eye, it would appear as though he was hardly moving.
SJ withdrew her claws and struck again, using the troll's angled upper body to remain on his back. She struck again; this time her claws punctured the base of its neck.
Tsongy let out a deep gurgling sound as SJ's display flashed with various notifications. She ignored them all, withdrew her blade, and struck again. Tsongy's arm holding him up slackened, and Liam jumped backward as the troll fell to the platform. He wasn't dead yet, and SJ, in frantic movements, struck him again and again. As each strike hit, Tsongy became quieter and quieter until eventually he stopped moving.
SJ was gasping for air as she rolled off Tsongy's still form. Lying on her back on the platform. Liam placed his hands on his hips and took in a slow, long breath. SJ spotted Oline, slowly trying to drag himself across the platform. The effects of the poison and Tsongy's spell did not leave him unscathed.
With effort, SJ pushed herself to her feet and staggered over to the halfling, bringing her foot down in the middle of his back. "I suggest that you stay there."
Oline let out a grunt and then a string of obscenities, but he was in no state to argue.
Fas rose from the platform, his features shifting as he took on his usual elven form.
"Are you okay?" SJ asked, worried about how the spell had affected him.
"I will be, yes. I hate warlocks."
Liam moved to where SJ stood over Oline, a pair of manacles appearing in his hands as he bent down and viciously pulled the halfling's arms behind his back. The halfling cried out in pain as he was cuffed, and then chains were added to his ankles.
SJ removed her foot from his back. The halfling was going nowhere. “You have questions to answer," Liam said, looking at the prone being.
Fas walked towards where Tsongy lay, and one of his blades appeared in his hand.
He brought it up and down with a swift movement as the troll's head was removed from its shoulders.
SJ gagged, not expecting him to do so. Fas looked over at her. "It's the only way to make sure they don't regenerate," he shrugged. Liam nodded in agreement.
“Perfectly sound conclusion,” Dave said. “Trolls require a neural link to regenerate, even if they are brain dead.”
That’s not what I’m struggling with, SJ thought sickness roiling in her stomach.
SJ turned towards where Urani lay, then looked at Fas. "You'd better not stay around; the tower guard is likely to arrive soon after the noise that we just made."
Liam raised an eyebrow at SJ's comment. "I don't think Carlito has anything to worry about," he said.
Fas looked at Liam and smiled. "It's been a very long time since our last meeting," Fas said.
SJ stared in amazement, looking between them both. "You know each other?"
“I did wonder,” Dave interjected. “Two elite operatives in the same city, it would make sense that their paths had crossed.”
"The last time was the annual tournament; oh, it must be sixty years ago now."
"Yes, and you beat me," Fas chuckled.
"Only just, we were evenly matched."
The revelation left SJ speechless. This city had so many unknown secrets, and her friends were purveyors of many of them.
SJ knelt beside Urani, and even though she had seen the notification that the Chief had died and the quest was completed, she still checked her pulse. Then accepted the loot notification. Various items appeared in her inventory, and she would look at what she had got later.
"Now what?" SJ asked. She may have planned the elimination, but hadn't even considered past this point.
"I expect now chaos ensues," Fas stated. "There is a vacancy now that someone will wish to fill, and also her other henchmen to deal with."
"I will send my men for her henchmen. They don't fall under the oath." Liam said.
"That's one less thing to worry about."
A horn blew in the distance. SJ knew the sound; the tower guard was coming.
That was when the world suddenly shifted. Both Fas and SJ turned at the same time and looked across the park.
"Damn," Fas cursed.
"What?" Liam stated in confusion.
"We have guests," Fas said.
They appeared like ghosts, three beautiful beings, their alabaster skin caught in the fleeting moonlight.
The Master stood with Claita and another vampire, whose identity SJ didn't know, some distance from the platform.
"Well, that news travelled much faster than I expected," Fas said.
Liam took in the three beings in front of him, his hands neutrally at his side as realisation struck what they were. He clenched his fists but didn't say a word.
"It looks like you have been busy," the Master said in a smooth voice.
SJ wasn't sure what to reply with, and even Fas seemed lost for words.
A wave crashed over them. This wasn't pressure; it was pure evil. Fear crept into every cell of SJ's body; every hair stood on end. The Master walked forward with his two lackies, as though he didn't have a care in the world, and was taking a casual stroll through the park. His hands were clasped behind his back.
“Don’t move,” Dave said quietly.
I couldn’t even if I tried.
"You didn't think I would have a link to the Chief?" the Master said, raising an eyebrow.
He took in the scene and casually walked towards where the Chief lay, within feet of SJ, who was frozen with terror. None of them spoke or reacted as he kicked at the still form of the Chief. Then turned to look at SJ.
"I see this is your doing," the Master said casually. "No oath broken, I see. I am surprised you would do something so reckless, Carlito," he continued, turning to look at Fas before appearing instantly in front of him, his hand grasping him by his tunic. With ease, Fas was now held several inches off the ground.
Fas was struggling to keep a neutral expression. "I didn't break our pact."
The Master tilted his head as he stared into Fas's eyes. "You tell the truth. Very well," he said, dropping Fas.
"Well, this wasn't what I expected to be dealing with so soon. I thought the Chief had at least another fifty years in her before I would need to take full control," the Master sighed. "Never a dull moment, as they say."
His casual behaviour was scarier than the fear that filled them all. They were all powerless to do anything against this monster, even if they had wished to.
“I’m not sure if he is about to kill us all or offer us a cup of tea,” Dave said.
