The figures hadn’t noticed us; instead, they circled the blacksmith one way, then another. Each step was in time, but as we watched for longer, the synchronised movement began to fall apart. Limbs didn’t quite match movements, with small, erratic twitches and spasms breaking the illusion of perfection. Footsteps began to falter as ankles rolled, and before long, the figures started crumpling one by one. They fell as if an arrow had taken them in the eye, folding in on themselves or falling hard as the momentum of their movement took them forward, not even raising a hand to cushion the impact.
Several moments went by, and the others looked at me, their expressions as confused as my own. When the bodies showed no signs of moving, I moved toward the door, my hand brushing against the handle when I heard voices.
“Three days and thirteen hours before severance.” This voice was rasping, like a metal file.
“The control has been the best yet out of our experiments. Find more subjects, and we’ll start right away on the next cycle!” This voice sounded like a noble’s with a musical quality to it. It marked her as a Cemfyllian. I paused by the door, wanting to know more.
“Yes. Doctor.”
“If we crack this Leech. This war will be as good as done in the first battle!”
“Yes…Doctor.”
“And Leech?”
“Yes, Doctor?”
“You may want to clear out of there soon. I just had a ping on the—”
A strange sound, like the fizzing of pork crackling on a hot pan, cut through the air, and I heard something metal clasp shut, like a jewellery box.
“Goodbye. Doctor.”
I heard footsteps and risked a glance through the window again, where I could see this stranger from the side. There was just one figure, slender but tall at around six and a half feet. They were dressed head to toe in black leather, wearing a large, curved, beaked mask and a heavy woollen cloak. Curious. I’d never seen this specific type of garb before. Why was he wearing a bird mask?
I looked at the others and held one finger up, then my whole hand, before pointing down.
There was no point getting into a conflict if we didn’t need to. Gertha nodded slowly at me, and I stayed crouched by the window, stealing another glance when I had the chance.
The figure was around twenty feet from us, facing the ruins of the blacksmith. They moved their hands in strange patterns before crimson lights flared over each fallen body, bathing them in red. They began to dissolve slowly, sending acrid vapours into the air.
Gertha gasped before clamping a hand over her mouth. Sayo looked at her before looking to me and drawing a blade. Sila just watched, his hand resting on his chest. I held my hand out again, this was clearly a magic user and I did not want to get a fight with a Fizzmouth.
“I can smell you,” Leech said.
I froze, as did the others. Gertha looked to Sayo and me.
What the fuck do we do? Sayo mouthed at me.
“Do not make me retrieve you. It will be. Unpleasant.” Leech still faced away from us, no longer moving his arms around; instead, he stood motionless, only the tilt of his head back toward us showing he knew exactly where we were.
I stood up, ignoring Gertha and Sayo’s frantic arm waving and pulled the door open, stepping outside and closing the door in one fluid motion. I rested my hand on the pommel of my sword; it wasn’t a threat, yet, but the action was a promise of violence should things go wrong.
“Good evening,” Leech said.
“Let’s hope it stays that way.” I looked Leech up and down, not seeing any sign of weaponry, concealed or otherwise.
He turned around to face me. That beaked mask completely covered his face. His eyes were two round pieces of glass framed by a dull silver metal; the rest of it was leather, like his clothing. In the distance, I heard a single rumble of thunder.
“Why do you, three other humans and one other…thing, spy on me like thieves in the night?”
“We made camp, saw a bunch of dead folks moving together at the same time. Figured we’d play it safe.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“Playing safe in the Free Forests…is difficult.”
I gritted my teeth, “That it is, friend. We’ll be on our way to find a safer place. I suggest you do too.”
I turned to go back into the house, “You cannot leave.” Leech said.
“Oh, really?” I said, curling my fingers around the handle of my sword, turning to face them once more.
“Your companion is injured. They require treatment.”
“That something your Doctor could help us with?” I stared Leech down.
“What is your name?” Leech took a step closer, but I held my ground.
“I am Tullen Fal Barraz.”
“You don’t look like a full blooded Zellunder.”
“I get that a lot.”
“Your companion will need stabilising, then you will come with me.” Leech pushed past me toward the door with surprising force. I grabbed their cloak, drawing my sword at the same time and held it against their throat. They smelled of iron, copper and oil, the smell catching in the back of my throat. Thunder rumbled in the sky, nearer now.
“You don’t go in without my say so, and we’re sure as anything not going with you anywhere!” I growled.
“You will all accompany me, or you will die. These are your choices. Make one.”
“Tullen! Don’t!” I heard Gertha’s voice, the telltale clack of coin against tooth telling me that she was ready at least.
“Listen to your wise companion. I do not wish to fight temptation.” Leech said, his voice altogether level, even with the bite of my steel against his neck.
I lowered my blade, confident that if there were any trouble, Gertha, Sayo and Eggs would be more than enough to back me up. He was unarmed after all.
“What the fuck are you on about?” I spat.
Leech straightened their leathers. Then walked into the cottage, ignoring me. I followed after, my blade still drawn, ready for anything.
The strange man sniffed and headed straight for Sila. I was taken aback as he completely ignored Eggs and the others, seemingly fixated on Sila. He placed his hand gently onto Sila’s chest and inhaled and exhaled several times.
“Three broken ribs, cracked sternum. Various bruising and tissue damage. Slight bleeding. You will see the Doctor.”
He stood up regarding Gertha, then Sayo, before looking up at Eggs, who had raised their head to meet Leech’s at eye level before opening their frill.
“Curious. This creature does not match any known taxonomic classification of Li’ard.”
“Li’ard? Do you mean Lizard?” I said, keeping my blade ready.
Leech looked at Sayo, “No injuries, elevated heart rate.” Sayo’s eyes narrowed.
Then he looked at Gertha, “Most curious, a Sundered? At your age? What a development.”
“Watch your fucking manners.” Gertha spat.
Leech turned to me, “I have no instructions to deal with you, but neither can I let you go without assessment. Accompany me, and your friend will be treated, and you will talk with the Doctor. Do you consent?”
I looked at Gertha, who gave me a near imperceptible shake of the head.
“No.” I rested my blade on my shoulder and gestured to the door, “Time for you to piss off.”
The sky erupted with thunder again, startling all of us bar Leech. It was like a giant heart beating, and with every sound there was a gust of wind that shook the building itself as well as the rest of the hamlet. Eggs cowered, letting out a slight whine.
“A pity.” Leech held their hand up, and a dull yellow light sprang forth and surrounded us all, including Eggs.
I attacked only to find myself held in place by an unseen force, my blade unable to move even a sliver. Gertha opened her mouth, and she looked like she was shouting, but no sound came from her. Sayo screamed bloody murder out loud while Sila looked to be peacefully asleep. Eggs’ eyes were wide, and their frill was flattened against their neck.
“What have you done to us?” I croaked.
A howl as loud as storms didn’t just slice through the air but oppressed it. The moon's light dimmed significantly, casting us into darkness. The howl of the storm made my ears ring in the way an earthquake had in my youth, while the sudden wind storm whipped around buildings, making the lighter objects in and around them fly suddenly away in all directions. Which meant the wind was above us.
“You will accompany me. Do not be alarmed, it is much safer than here!”
My head was released, and I looked up through the gap in the ceiling.
It hung in the sky, its closeness to us eclipsing the moon. I knew terror in that moment as I saw mighty wings, pockmarked by holes and tears from years of battle, keep the beast aloft. The wings sent forth huge gusts of air, even though the creature hung hundreds of meters away. Scarred scales the size of tower shields rippled as mighty legs flexed in the cold night sky, while its tail, impossibly long, coiled and twitched like a dying serpent.
Gleaming red eyes scanned all around and for a brief moment seemed to lock with mine, although I’m convinced that was a trick of my imagination. Eggs whimpered as the Fell Dragon roared, the sound shaking our very souls.
"It's the Dragon from the Tower!" Just our luck, Eggs had eaten the hatchlings, and Gertha had stolen the gold of a bloody Fell Dragon. I could hear a howl of laughter in the back of my mind.
Leech looked up, "No. It's far too big to be that particular specimen."
The Fell Dragon began to descend as the yellow glow got brighter.
“Do it. Take us!” I growled.
“I do not seek permission.”
Yellow light enveloped my sight, and we all fell together.
Who is your favourite character so far?
