The Beginnings Omnibus: Beginnings 1, 2, 3 & Legend of Ashenclaw novella (Realm of Ashenclaw Beginnings Saga) (61 page)

“Very well, Tiyarnon,” Nimaira agreed. “We will do as you suggest. We will begin making the proper arrangements at first light.” Nimaira made to leave but Ganthorpe stood and blocked her path, seemingly inadvertently.

“What is happening here? What have I missed?” Ganthorpe asked them both. “There is information I am missing. Specifically, the confirmation of Chansuk’s apparent demise, and rumors of a missing item of some sort. What of this? How can I help?”

“Yes, we assembled a group to recover the phylactery of Sadreth,” Tiyarnon admitted as he faced Ganthorpe. “The amulet that was held in my temple for—“

“Safekeeping, yes,” Ganthorpe interrupted. “I am somewhat familiar with the story…and?”

“It is a long story, and one which I will give you the details of sometime later. The smaller tale is that a group of specialists were assembled to recover the item,” Tiyarnon informed. “This included the help of the Inquisition, specifically, Garius Forge of the Faceless Knights of Order. They arrived recently, as did two of their sages. The group left over a week ago.”

“I seem to remember you speaking highly of this Garius at one time or another—an acolyte of yours if I recall correctly?” Ganthorpe responded, attempting to sound innocent in his questioning. “You will certainly have to fill me in on that story in the morn, then. I am intrigued.”

“Very well. Tomorrow then,” Tiyarnon agreed, making it to his feet. Nimaira stood, proceeded toward the exit of the council chamber, and called back to Tiyarnon. “We cannot send too many knights as to leave our own city defenseless…or weakly guarded. I could not bear to see something happen,” she admitted with a look of concern.

“Aye, let us discuss this further, then.” Tiyarnon stood and nodded politely to Ganthorpe. Then both of them exited the room leaving Ganthorpe to his thoughts.

Perhaps Sadreth will do my work for me,
Ganthorpe thought, familiar with the events to which Tiyarnon alluded.
Even so, I will need to make…arrangements,
he decided as a wicked smile crossed his face.
I cannot be too careful when it comes to guarding my own livelihood.

The series of passageways and tunnels was vast and had obviously been home to another intelligent race at one time. Garius informed them that whatever race had lived here may have been ousted by Thanatos’ cultists, who defiled the place, erecting idols to their demon lord.

Rose and Elec passed through what could only be a workshop of some kind, as tools and implements of craftsmanship lay scattered about on tables and such. They saw nothing of use until Rose made a hand signal for Elec to halt, followed quickly by another to join her at her position. Rose alleged that she’d heard something behind a door as she pointed to it.

“Aye, there is movement tor certain within,” Elec whispered in agreement. “There is something in there for sure.”

Elec turned to see Garius and Saeunn approaching. Garius stood silent and still, his presence awe-inspiring without uttering a word. 

Saeunn stood in the corridor with her hands draped over the hilt of her greatsword, leaning upon it. She carried an intimidating presence, despite her beautiful features. Her long, blonde, partially braided hair, was no longer bound by her sash, and fell well past her shoulders. There was an interesting dichotomy to the barbarian, Elec thought as he began to familiarize himself with the many sides of this remarkable woman.

Elec longed to know more about his other associates as well, admittedly being a creature driven by curiosity.

He watched Rose, as she tugged on the handle of the door. She looked up and realized that it was spiked shut for some reason. She reached up and yanked the unsecured spike from the door quietly, cracked the door and peered in.

Mindless, soulless creatures wandered around the room. They had not noticed that the door had opened yet, and so Rose quickly closed it.

“We need something to block this door! Quickly!” Rose hissed, staring back in horror. She tried without success to place the spike back in the door, but it would not hold.

“Why?” Elec asked. “What is it?”

“Things with… rotting skin hanging from their bones!” Rose whispered, opening the door quickly to show Elec. Rose was clearly frightened beyond all comprehension at seeing what was behind the door.

The abominations heard the creak of the door this time and launched themselves over one another at breakneck speed toward the door, which opened out toward them. They slammed the door shut again and Rose’s eyes went wide with alarm. The pair leaned against the door, trying in vain to hold it closed by themselves.

They heard the distinct sound of claws scraping against the wood and iron on the opposite side of the heavy door.

 “What is it?” Saeunn asked.

“Zombies!” Rose barked, before taking a deep breath in an attempt to regain her composure. ”Help us!” she exclaimed a bit less excitedly, but impatiently, cocking her head and pursing her lips at the barbarian woman, who calmly moved toward the door.

 “Open it,” Garius ordered as he removed his helm. “Then step away.”

Garius began to channel some of that necromantic energy he’d stored within himself. He offered what Elec recognized now as a prayer to The Shimmering One, allowing him access to the regenerative plane. A palpable and visible glow began to radiate from his body. That glow not only encompassed his armor, but appeared to be inside of his body, emerging from his eye sockets as his pupils disappeared, replaced only by the radiance contained within him.

The undead attempted to rush past him and that aura, but were physically displaced backward instead, tossed aside as Garius entered the room, the radiant energy churning within him.

Further into the room he strode and as each abomination closed in on him, it simply turned to ash under his divine punishment. Suddenly, a burst of  holy energy poured forth from him, temporarily enveloping the entire room in a tremendously bright flash. And then it was gone. Where there were once the walking dead, in their place were piles of ashes—all reduced to nothingness.

“They are returned from whence they came,” Garius sternly stated, “back to Pandemonium—undeath to death.”

Rose and Elec looked at one another and then to Garius who merely gestured for them to carry on once more. But, before he replaced his helm atop his head, Rose slammed into him, wrapping her arms around him and giving him a peck on the cheek before running off again.

Elec glanced back at that exchange and grinned, knowing that Rose had a quite evident, incomparable fear of the undead, and that Garius saved them all from what would have surely been another costly and time consuming battle. It seemed Rose was a little more appreciative than the others, Elec supposed, his smile persisting.

They all composed themselves quickly and followed his instruction, Elec moving off after Rose to lead them along the unknown passageways.

Less than a hundred paces later, they collectively heard a blood-curdling scream coming from down the hall. The foursome quickly headed off to investigate.

Orngoth bent low to quickly inspect the blonde haired man for injuries. As he examined him, he noticed an icon hanging on a chain around his neck. Orngoth recalled the symbol as belonging to the Gods of Order, unlike the ones found within this foul place. He did not worship the gods, but he also did not like demon lords or anything that they represented. He could not remember the exact meaning of that symbol, but it reminded him of Celeste, his mother, for some reason.

He thought briefly of her and also her friend, Lynnai, the forester who had brought him his mother’s gifts. During her brief encounter, she had also spoken to him about the character of his mother.

He stood now and tried to control his bloodlust, recalling the missing gem, and it was difficult. Looking at the unconscious man once more, Orngoth gently lifted him up and placed his limp body over his broad shoulder. He decided that leaving him here was not a good idea.

He headed off in the only direction he hadn’t yet investigated and that he figured might lead him to his magical gem. He lumbered down the open corridor and past a lit doorway, approximately twenty paces to his right, where he heard distant voices. He immediately felt compelled to investigate, but realized he couldn’t very well bring a defenseless man with him.

He crept as best he could past that doorway, which was partially shut and noticed another room directly ahead. He decided to see if he could set the man down there. He ran into the darkened room and inside found a series of cots, as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. It suited his needs for now so he placed the young man gently onto one of them, turned back, and walked out of the room into the hall. He approached the intersection and turned to his left, facing the door where he’d heard the voices. He stopped and removed the enormous club from his back, expecting a fight.

A mask of pure rage adorned his face as he recognized the distinct dialect of the orcs. Anticipation and adrenaline began pumping through his veins as he realized his reckoning was at hand.

Alana heard a scream echo from afar and feared the worst. Had they done all of this for naught? Thaurion must not have gotten far from the cell if that was indeed him.

She turned and looked at the limp form of Rolf and the bound and gagged orc that eyed her hatefully from across the room. She wondered what she would do if Thaurion were captured…or worse. Many thoughts raced through her mind and a panic set in.