Sage of the Forlorn Path
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Across Eternity: Book 7 - Chapter 4
🕑 Added 2025-08-28 02:25:32 +0000 UTCTHIS STORY CONTAINS SEXUAL CONTENT AND ADULT THEMES AND SHOULD NOT BE READ BY ANYONE UNDER 18.
Onward
The group set out the late in the morning, due to Noah and Valia’s slow start. Foley had joined them, much to his parents’ displeasure, but if there was one thing dwarves were known for, it was their stubbornness. They made good time in their travels, with Noah riding Shannon and everyone else on horses, minus Foley, who had taken the family donkey. As always, Shannon set the pace, and everyone’s mounts seemed at ease following her. They headed east towards the Paleon Channel, carved eons ago by the Wassengel. They arrived days later, evoking a sense of nostalgia in Noah and Alexis.
“This is where you fought those ogres, right?” Valia asked.
“Yeah, were riding on a slave ship bound for Colbrand,” said Noah, “and a certain someone thought it would be a good idea to spill the blood of a female to lure the tribe.”
“Oh, stop it. You had fun,” said Alexis.
“True. Good times.”
“How do we get across? Is there a ferry or something?” Daniel asked.
“I can take care of that. Sophia, some help, dear?” Cyrilo asked. Both women got off their horses and Cyrilo conjured a scroll, unrolling it on the bank beside the channel. They both clasped their hands together and channeled their mana into the scroll.
“Ice Bridge,” they cast.
The water before them froze, forming a solid path across the channel, several feet wide and thick. The horses were understandably nervous, so everyone dismounted and led them to the other side of the channel with Shannon coaxing them. In the summer heat, the ice would surely melt quickly, but as this was a busy shipping lane and a boat could pass at any time, Seraph and Valia shattered the ice so vessels could get through.
“Ah Vandheim, the dwarf homeland. It just feels right,” said Foley.
“All we did was cross a hundred feet of water,” Daniel argued. “It’s not like we sailed across the ocean.”
“Oi, don’t ruin it for me.”
Despite Daniel’s words, the topography was quite different. Vandheim was much more mountainous than Uther, forming a wall of stone to block out the rising sun. When the channel was carved, it divided the mountain range from the grasslands.
“Where are we?” Seraph asked as Noah pulled out a map.
“We should be right about here. If we keep a good pace, we can reach this village by nightfall. That said, this trip may not go as well as we had planned. I got in contact with Colbrand last night. After the mess in Foley’s village, I updated them on the situation, and instructed them to send a message to the dwarven capital, informing them of our visit. They received a reply warning them that any diplomatic party would be turned away.”
“Turned away?” Valia asked. “The dwarves aren’t fond of strangers, but they would never be so rude as to refuse a meeting with diplomats from their closest neighbor. The two countries have too much history for them to suddenly give the cold shoulder like this.”
“Galvin must have really angered them during his reign. They’ve shut off all contact with Uther.”
“But we’re still continuing, right?” Foley asked.
“We’ve already crossed the bridge, haven’t we? We don’t have time to wait for the dwarves to stop being angry. We need to get them on the same page regarding the Profane. That said, we may end up facing serious pushback, even arrest.”
They got back on their horses and continued onward, finding a road leading them through the Vandheim wilderness. As always, monsters were a constant presence, but proved no threat to the group. Here among the mountains, the pines grew like giants, as though nurtured by Sylphtorian soil. They groaned and swayed in the breeze, deep as the cracking of glacial ice, and high as the whining of coyotes. The pinecones at their bases were larger than a human head, with needles like green straw that filled the air with their evergreen scent.
They reached the village as the sun approached the horizon, finding not wooden houses standing tall, but dwellings built into the earth and covered in soil, upon which the citizens planted their gardens. Cobblestone paths wound through the manmade hills, with dwarf men, women, and children finishing the last of their chores before dusk. Noah’s group received curious glances as they rode by. Although Vandheim and Uther engaged in a lot of trade, small towns like these probably did not receive many visitors, especially now.
They arrived at the local inn, stepping down into the quaint establishment. Inside, it was like any other tavern found throughout the land, but made with brick walls and featuring smaller furniture, though the ceiling was high enough to accommodate everyone. Candles burned in every corner to make up for the absent windows, but there was sufficient ventilation. Many dwarves were already present, seated at the long tables and drinking away their soreness and fatigue from a hard day’s work. At the sight of their party and its size, both in number and height, the innkeeper, a stout man with a bright red beard, gave a discouraging look.
“Pardon me. We seek shelter for the night. Can you accommodate us?”
“You are from Uther, correct?” he asked nervously.
“Most of us, yes. Is that a problem?”
“Orders from the king: we aren’t supposed to treat with outsiders.”
Noah laid some diamonds on the counter. “I’m sure no one would object to a kind innkeeper granting a roof to some weary neighbors for just one night.”
“Well… we have two large rooms if you don’t mind splitting up, though bedding might be a bit more complicated.”
“We’re not too picky. We left our horses in the stable above and we’d like them taken care of.”
“Very well then, here are your room keys. Find seats wherever you can and we’ll bring you dinner.”
“Thank you.”
They moved deeper into the inn, finding a table large enough for everyone to sit at, at least in part. Both the table and chairs were quite a bit lower than everyone was accustomed to, leaving everyone sitting cross-legged or with their knees drawn up to their chest.
“I really hope the whole journey won’t be like this,” said Sophia, trying to get comfortable.
Beside her, Cyrilo had given up and assumed her feline form.
“I think this is pretty cool, like being in a bunker,” said Daniel.
“Valon and I spent time in Vandheim ages ago, and it definitely took some getting used to,” said Valia.
“I heard that the dwarves of Vandheim have a long tradition of building our homes into the earth like this,” said Foley. “Part of it is due to our love of rock and dirt, and being closer to the ground. Though, a lot of it is for protection. Wyverns roost up in the mountains, and they hunger for dwarves. They’ll rip open wooden houses like a burlap sack, so the citizens of Vandheim learned quickly to build down instead of up.”
“I’m just glad they have raised ceilings. I was worried I’d have to spend the whole trip either crouched or with a bent neck,” said Seraph.
“I read they do that for fire safety, right?” Noah asked.
“Correct you are. With raised ceilings, all the smoke gathers well above our heads, so if there is a situation, we can escape with minimal risk of suffocation. And in the cities, which are carved out of solid rock and dug into the mountains, open space is used as a status symbol to show off. Plus, if there is ever a cave-in, the more space that’s already carved out, the more likely an air-pocket will form for survivors. We also want to be accommodating to you lankies.”
Dwarf maidens began serving food and drinks, although it took some time due to the size of their party. They also shared the innkeeper’s unease about serving outsiders, but said nothing. Dinner consisted of a meat and mushroom stew, accompanied by some bread, while the steins were more than a pint each.
“Oh, I’ve been looking forward to this,” Daniel said excitedly.
“Not nearly as much as I have,” said Foley. The two drank deep from their steins and sighed in bliss.
“Genuine dwarven ale. It really does taste different on this side of the channel,” said Daniel.
“This is the proper way to drink it, ‘neath Vandheim soil.”
“This is good,” said Noah in agreement.
“By the way, I hope you all like mushrooms, because you’ll be eating a lot of them while you’re here,” said Valia.
After they ate, the innkeeper stopped by their table. “I hope you found everything suitable,” he said nervously.
“It was all delicious, thank you,” said Noah.
“Excellent. I hope you enjoy a good night’s sleep, and tomorrow, you return to Uther.”
“I’m afraid we have business in the capital. We need to speak with the new king about the return of the Pro—”
“Silence!” the man fearfully exclaimed, shocking everyone and earning the group dirty looks from every dwarf in the establishment.
“That word is taboo, and you risk bringing misfortune upon my house by speaking it!”
Everyone exchanged glances and Noah stood up. “I understand and offer my sincerest apologies. My friends and I will seclude ourselves in our rooms and be out of your hair first thing in the morning. Thank you again for your kind hospitality and indiscretion.”
They left the dining room and headed deeper into the inn, arriving at the two largest rooms available. The plan was to divide them among the sexes, but everyone first gathered in the men’s room to speak. The room was just large enough for everyone to sit on the floor, but it was clear there weren’t enough beds to go around.
“What do you suppose that was about?” Sophia asked.
“It seems Galvin wasn’t the only reason Vandheim cut ties with Uther,” said Noah. “They aren’t ready to acknowledge the return of the Profane. It’s the kind of danger that no leader wants to face.”
“Especially for the new king,” added Seraph. “From what Tarnas told me, the old king died this past spring, soon after his son, leaving a power vacuum with no one suitable to fill it. The heads of the major clans elected someone to take the throne but, well, let’s just say he was everyone’s third choice and no one’s first.”
“He’s probably hoping that if the dwarves ignore the Profane, they’ll be left alone, and the other nations will deal with them,” said Valia. “Politicians don’t fear destruction; they fear the change that follows it. We’ll have to convince the ruler of a race known for its stubbornness to acknowledge the greatest threat to his authority.”
“We’ll just have to be more careful in our approach, metaphorically and literally. The last thing we want is to be arrested before we even reach the capital,” said Noah. “For now, let’s just focus on resting up and getting out of here.”
“Very well,” said Cyrilo. “We’ll just help ourselves to a few of your beds. Thank you in advance for being such well-mannered gentlemen.” She left no room to argue, and the women absconded with all but two of the straw mattresses, with Noah keeping his since he was paying for everything. Thus, the question arose as to who would get the last one.
“I saved all of us in that last battle, so I should get it,” said Daniel.
“Hey, if it weren’t for me, you probably wouldn’t even be let in here. You’d be sleeping in the stables. The dwarf gets the bed,” Foley argued.
“I probably don’t deserve the bed, but I would really, really appreciate it,” said Seraph.
“Gentlemen, there is an easy way to solve this,” Noah said as he pulled out a deck of cards.
The four of them sat down on the floor and Noah started dealing out the cards.
“Just so you know, you lot are playing against the luckiest dwarf in the world. High cards swoon for me like floozies,” said Foley as he looked at his hand.
“Spoken like someone who has never had to play with his life on the line,” countered Daniel. “The last time I handled cards in a basement like this, there was a gun to the back of my head. A gun being—well just imagine a crossbow. Hard to hold the cards steady after snorting a line, too.”
“Lumendori, please watch over me,” Seraph prayed.
The last cards were delt and the community cards were flipped, with Foley hollering in joy as he laid out his hand.
“Read it and weep!”
“Double or nothing!” Daniel countered as he placed two gonlief cigarettes on the floor.
“Hmmm, make it three and you have a deal. What about you, princeling? Are you still in the game?”
“Sure, I’ll buy back in,” he replied, laying out some copper coins.
The game continued, with ownership of the last bed swapping with each round, and every victory was louder than the one before. Drinks were poured, and gonlief was burned in celebration, with the ante rising each time.
“This reminds me of growing up in Selt,” Noah eventually said while dealing cards.
“That another past life?” Daniel asked.
“Yeah. A long time ago, I was born into this miserable little shanty town on the coast, the kind of place where everyone is poor because they spend all their money on bottom-of-the-barrel hedonism. I’m talking drugs that melt your brain and make your fingers rot off, bathtub liquor that could melt through leather, and the ugliest, grossest local whores you can imagine. That was all they had to drown their sorrows in. Most of the jobs related to fishing and the sea, with young boys being worked half to death just for scraps, only to die in some accident. If there was something dangerous that needed to be done, a kid would be volunteered and often end up maimed or dead. Girls were passed around and whored out, several dying due to pregnancy complications before they even became teenagers.
If you had a parent, they were usually a mean drunk, and mean while sober. The local boys had this shack where we’d go and play cards late into the night, just so we wouldn’t have to go home, because nothing was waiting there but a beating. I tried to escape when I was… I can’t remember how old, less than ten, though. I ended up catching pneumonia and dying on the side of the road before I got anywhere better.”
“Couldn’t you have used all of your life experience to make things better? Build an empire out of that squalor?” Seraph asked.
“Not all situations can be fixed or improved, especially when you’re stuck in the sickly, emaciated body of a child. You think anyone will listen to you? You think anyone will obey or fear you? It doesn’t matter how smart you are or how well you know how to fight; sometimes, you’re just stuck at the bottom rung, and there’s no climbing out.”
“You’re really killing our fun, you know?” Foley muttered.
“Seriously, can’t you tell us a fun story?” Daniel asked. “Tell us a story you wouldn’t say around Valia.”
“Very well. Here’s the tale about how I knocked up an entire sorority….”
Meanwhile, in the next room, the women, hearing all the fun Noah and the guys were having, had started their own card game. Cyrilo was dealing and Valia and Alexis had already busted, so now it was Sophia against Shannon, each being coached with hushed whispers. Alexis had to be especially careful with what she said to Sophia, considering how sharp Valia’s elf ears were.
“I’m coming for you, Lady Zodiac,” Alexis warned, adding to the pot on Sophia’s behalf.
“It’s a hundred years too early to think you can catch me,” Valia countered as she snatched the card that Cyrilo delt Shannon.
Sophia leaned towards Alexis. “Should I… you know?”
“No, I’d say we got them right where we want them,” replied Alexis.
“You can’t win. I have all of my ancestors and the spirits of nature on my side,” said Shannon.
“Oh, do you hear that?” Sophia asked, tapping one of her cards. “That’s my god, the almighty Lumendori, giving all of your ancestors and the spirits little head pats like they’re children and pretending to be impressed.”
“All bets are in. And now…” Cyrilo said as she flipped the last community card. Shannon and Sophia, still relatively new to the game, weren’t exactly sure what it meant, but Alexis and Valia’s reactions made it clear.
“Yes!” Alexis exclaimed while hugging Sophia, who squealed in joy.
“Forgive me, My Lady,” Shannon sighed as Valia groaned beside her.
“There is nothing to forgive. However, tell your ancestors that they’re bad at playing cards.”
That night, everyone slept on the floor. The dwarven beds were barely larger than couch cushions, so they had to be taken off their frames laid out like bedrolls, offering only a small amount of padding under everyone’s backs, everyone besides Seraph and Foley, whose luck had run out. Before falling asleep, Noah activated his beacon to summon Duska, planning to meet her the following night. They set out early the next day, not wanting to overstay their welcome in the village with things so tense. While making camp and having dinner, he covertly drugged everyone’s food, leaving them deep asleep when she arrived. He met her a short distance from the camp, sitting on a boulder.
“Master,” she whimpered, bowing before him with her body trembling on account of the seal.
He had subjected her to almost 24 hours of continuous clitoral stimulation, at a level just low enough to allow her to hide it from her allies, as well as make the journey to his location. A full day of that torment, in which she desperately wanted to climax, but nothing she did on her own would let her experience peace. He could see it in her eyes, the absence of any willpower to resist or defy him. She had fully transformed into a slave, both to him and her own lust. That said, he still had to hammer it in and ensure her loyalty. He had been kind and gentle last time, but now, a bit of cruelty to make sure she’d never gain the courage to go against him.
“Duska, you made good time getting here. Well done.”
“Master, please, I can’t take it anymore,” she whined as she removed her clothes and retracted her wings into her back. She turned around and presented herself to him, her pale ass shining in the moonlight with her arousal running down her thighs. “Please, fuck me, Master. I’ll do whatever you want, so please, just let me cum.”
Noah got to his feet and shrouded he and Duska in his magic. “And why should a slave get to cum before her master? Put that mouth to work and then maybe I’ll reward you after.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” she said while trembling.
She frantically pulled his cock free of his pants and devoured it. She bobbed her head back and forth, massaging him with every soft corner of her mouth in a desperate bid to make him cum. Duska was voracious, sucking him off like her life depended on it. She looked up at Noah, hoping her efforts were having an effect, but seeing only indifference in his eyes. Her anxiety skyrocketed from that cold glare and she doubled her efforts, loudly and messily polishing his cock with frothy saliva dribbling down onto her tits. Soon, she pulled it out of her mouth and rubbed it against the side of her face, looking up at Noah with frantic eyes.
“Am I doing good, Master? Does that feel good?”
“That’s enough, Duska. I’ll take it from here.”
He then grabbed her horns and rammed his cock down into the depths of her throat. He showed her no mercy, skull-fucking her as fast and hard as physically possible, making her spit froth like he was churning butter. Each impact of his cock in her throat triggered her gag reflex, making her spasm and convulse, but he didn’t slow down. Duska’s eyes rolled back into her head from the barrage of sensations assaulting her mind, wondering if she was going to black out, or worse.
Finally, an explosion of semen erupted in her throat, just as her gag reflex made her seize up, sending Noah’s seed sloshing around in her mouth, running down her esophagus and windpipe, and even filling her sinuses. Noah dropped her to the ground and she rolled onto her stomach, coughing so hard she thought she’d puke up a lung. A mixture of semen, saliva, tears, and other fluids pooled beneath her face, and as soon as she was done, Noah grabbed her by the hair and pulled her up onto her knees.
“Did I say you could make a mess? Look at how much you wasted.”
“I’m sorry, Master! Please, forgive me!” she cried.
“You know what happens to disobedient slaves. They get punished.”
He moved back to the boulder where he had been sitting, dragging her with him, and pulled her across his lap. He squeezed her throat with one hand, while the other hand roughly groped her ass.
“I wish I didn’t have to do this, Duska, but it’s for your own good.” He then raised his hand and smacked her white cheeks, making Duska squeal in pain. As a Profane, she should have been able to shrug off such a strike without even a flinch, but because of the seal continuing to torment her, she was incredibly sensitive. Her tail curled up, trying to protect her rear from his cruel hand, but he pinned it down and spanked her again, making her ass ripple as it soaked up the force.
“I’m sorry!”
“Are you? Are you really?” He delivered a third smack, making her cry out once more. “Is this the best I can expect from you?” Smack! “Are you just going to be useless and inept all your life?” Smack! “Why would the Profane tolerate this weakness? Why should I?” Smack! With each strike, her smooth pale skin reddened and fresh tears poured from her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Master! Please, I’m so sorry! Please forgive me!” she sobbed.
“Why did you even join the Profane?” Smack! “What were you running from?” Smack! “What were you possibly hoping to accomplish?” Smack!
“I don’t know! I can’t remember!”
“Don’t lie to me to me, Duska.” Smack! “Deep down, you know why.” Smack!
“I’m not lying! I can’t remember anymore!”
“Slaves don’t get to keep secrets.” Smack! “Everything about you belongs to me. Your body, your mind, your soul, your past, your present, your future; everything.” Smack! “When I ask you a question that you refuse to answer, it means you still don’t understand your place as my slave.” Smack! “This is why I’m punishing you, because you choose to disobey and disappoint me.” He then pulled out the remote to her seal and raised the intensity of her sexual anguish, sending such strong stimulation to her clit that her entire body was trembling. He spanked her, injecting a mixture of agony and pleasure straight into the center of her very being. “And I’m going to keep punishing you until you choose to remember and be honest with me. Why did you join the Profane? What happened?”
He spanked her rear again and again, each time making her scream and moan, but no matter how she begged, he didn’t stop. She delved deep into her mind, trying to escape the torrent of sensations assaulting her very being, but it followed her, the pleasure and pain nipping at her heels like ravenous wolves. She also fled the questions he asked, the questions making her feel like she was pressed against a brick wall with nowhere to go. Behind that wall, deep in her soul, was the past she made herself forget. With each strike of his hand, she felt like she was being pushed against that wall, as if she was strapped to the front of a battering ram trying to break it down, crushing her with such force that she thought she’d lose her mind.
Finally, he spanked her with all of his strength, sending a bolt of lightning up her spine, and the wall shattered, with everything beautiful and terrible she had hidden behind it rushing out. The physiological response took the form of the biggest climax of her life, leaving her squirting like a fountain while tears poured down her face.
“My sister!” she screamed, staying Noah’s hand.
“Go on.”
“I couldn’t save her,” she wept. “Our parents were gone and she was all I had. We were alone. She got hurt and I— and I— tried to heal her but I wasn’t strong enough. I prayed and prayed for Lumendori to help me, but… I was alone. I watched my sister die, watched the light leave her eyes, because there was no one there to help us. God didn’t help her, people didn’t help her, I couldn’t help her! I buried her, and then Helena appeared. She said I would never be alone again, and I… I said yes. And then….”
She couldn’t go on, sobbing uncontrollably. Now Noah understood why she was so driven to vengeance after Leanne died. She had blocked out the death of her first sister, but that trauma would not let her accept the death of her second, who she blamed him for. She had hated him, and he used that against her, harnessing the intensity of her emotions and that unbreakable link between them, turning that hatred into love through a carefully-executed combination of kindness and torment, pleasure and fear.
She didn’t react as Noah sat her up on his lap and wiped her face clean with a handkerchief, not until he put it to her nose. “Blow.” She took the cloth and blew her nose, then finished wiping away her tears. “I would have helped you. Had I been there, you wouldn’t have been alone. But I’m here for you now, and you won’t be alone, my sweet Duska.”
“Master,” she whimpered, resting her head against him, the two holding each other. Tears continue to run down her cheeks, but slower than before, each drop washing away the dust and darkness from her memories.
“I’m proud of you, just so proud. Now, let me reward your honesty. You know what to do.”
“Of course, Master,” she whispered with a tear-streaked smile.
She stood up so Noah could remove his clothes, and then he sat back on the boulder, and she settled on his lap, just as they had their last time together. She barely had the strength to ride him properly, both her body and mind left in a state of exhaustion. Noah held her, lifting and dropping her onto his cock while she rested against him. Noah was slow and gentle with her, giving her the care and affection she needed. Eventually, the two of them shared a simultaneous climax, with Duska whimpering in bliss as she received Noah’s seed. The two of them sat there for a bit, continuing to hold each other.
“Good girl. Do you feel better?”
Duska silently nodded.
“I’m glad. Ok, Duska. I think you know what comes next. Present yourself to your master.”
She got off his lap and moved onto the ground on all fours, shaking her ass at Noah. “I’m ready, Master. Please, use my flesh as you see fit.”
Noah didn’t need any other invitations. He got behind her and spat on her asshole, using it as lube before sliding in his cock. Duska groaned as he stuffed her, burying himself in up to the base. With his hands on her hips, he pulled back and then rammed back in, just the first of countless brutal shoves. Just like their last tryst, he did not go easy on her, fucking her with all of his strength and speed, pushing her Profane endurance to its limits, making her wonder if she could survive his lustful fury.
Duska moaned at the top of her lungs as he brutalized her asshole, her mind unable to form a single thought while bombarded with such overwhelming sensations. The pleasure and the pain of his savage technique were inexorably intertwined, and she could no longer tell them apart. As a Profane, she used to think of herself as inherently sadistic, but each time Noah brutalized her, each time he violently took her as his plaything and threatened to break her, each time he dragged her through the muck of pain and degradation, she felt like there was a hole in her heart being filled, and she got to experience a form of euphoria she never thought possible. She was Noah’s slave, and he was her master, and she loved it.
For the next few hours, Noah fucked Duska to within an inch of her life, defiling every inch, violating every orifice, and hammering out every last tiny shred of rebellion or disobedience, bleaching her loyalty to the Profane and ensuring her total subservience to him. She had passed his test, so he rewarded her orgasm after orgasm. Finally, he pulled out of her asshole one last time, leaving a waterfall of semen to pour out, identical to the stream of seed trickling out of her thoroughly-ravished pussy. He grabbed Duska by one of her horns and raised her head. She looked at him with glazed-over eyes, gasping for air as he stroked himself before firing off several hot ropes across her face and into her mouth. Noah let her go and sat back on the boulder, breathing as heavily as she was. He took a moment to conjure his canteen from his ring and quench his thirst.
“You’re a good girl, Duska. I’m lucky to have you.”
Duska crawled over and bowed before him. “And I am lucky to serve a man as great as you, Master.”
“Now we move to the next step. I need to know about the manor where Lupin is being held. Tell me exactly where it is, how many Profane are there, and what they can do.”
She nodded and smiled. “Of course, Master. Do you have a map?”
He showed her a map of the country, and she pointed out the location. She then proceeded to tell him the layout and what kind of resistance to expect, as well as the conditions of Lupin’s captivity. She told him about the powers of Andromeda and her peerage, and though she didn’t know the exact abilities of the elite Profane, she was able to tell Noah what branches of corrupted magic they used, such as elemental, monk, and warrior.
“Perfect. I’m heading to the dwarven capital to try and get them onboard with defeating the Profane, then we’ll move to your location.”
“There is something else you should know. I mentioned before that Zyrga’s remains had been found and would be brought to Vandheim. There’s been a development. The bones were bound in an Enochian seal, and our kin across the sea have been working on breaking it. It’s estimated that it shall be finished in two months, with a third to ship the remains to Vandheim. I haven’t been able to find out how they plan to do it, but our leader, Ragar, hopes to somehow revive Zyrga and usher in a new age of the Profane.”
“Revive Zyrga? But if they succeed, wouldn’t that render the parasite program redundant?”
“The two plans were always meant to happen simultaneously, so that if one project failed, we could still put our hopes on the other.”
“This is troubling news, but its delivery is a godsend. You’ve done wonderfully, Duska. I’m very proud of you.”
Though he was the man that had enslaved, humiliated, and tormented her, receiving praise from Noah filled her mind with happy fluff like some kind of sweet drug. “Thank you, Master,” she hummed, with her tail almost waging in joy.
“Here, take this.” Noah handed her one of the harkonen gems sealed in diamond. Special precautions had been built in to ensure that even if the Profane got their hands on it, they couldn’t use it against him. “With this, I’ll be able to project my presence to your location to communicate with you, Bella, and Lupin, making it appear like I’m standing right in the room. However, conversations can only be initiated from my side, and I’ll be going in blind. Find a safe place to store this where it won’t be discovered and where we can converse in secret. Also, take this.”
He handed her a magical locket.
“When both you and Bella hold this chain and channel in your mana, it’ll send a signal to a locket I carry, causing it to open, letting me know it’s safe to contact you. It will only work if it’s the two of you specifically, and continuously. My friends don’t know about you and Bella, so I’ll only be able to communicate with you at midnight, when I can pretend to be asleep, unless other circumstances keep me from doing so. Just because you send the signal doesn’t mean I’ll see it, or that I’ll be able to reach you, depending on what I’m doing at the time. I’ll send a pulse through your seal to let you know I’ve received your message and will reply. I’ll contact you both in three days, so be ready.”
“Good. Bella will be really happy to hear that.” She accepted the gift and then blushed. “Master, did you mean what you said? You’re here for me, and I won’t be alone?”
“Of course I did,” he said, wrapping her ever tighter in the web of his lies.
Duska threw her arms around Noah and kissed him deeply.
“I love you, Master.”
“I love you, too. Now go, and I’ll see you soon.”
Duska retrieved her clothes, bowed, and then took to the sky with a flap her wings. Noah then retrieved his own clothes. Once again, he’d have to wash himself of the smell of Profane lust, but his plan was proceeding perfectly. As always, everyone woke up the next morning feeling refreshed, though a few had a harder time getting up than others, attributing their unnaturally deep sleep to natural fatigue, completely unaware of Noah’s nighttime rendezvous.
They continued on with their journey, traveling ever deeper into Vandheim. The mountains surrounded them with their towering peaks, capped white even in the summer. The eastern wind slashed the ice and cast the fallen snow back into the sky that had birthed it, with sunlight glimmering in the diamond dust shroud. The black cliffs were dotted with wonders of dwarven architecture, including monasteries where cloistered monks venerated the gods, and temples where ancient schools of martial arts were passed from one generation to the next.
They traveled on roads made with precision and quality; each stone placed with a deep respect for the earth and pride in dwarven craftsmanship. They had been built hundreds of years prior, but remained strong and in pristine condition. They were roads that the engineers of ancient Rome would drool over. These paths carried their group along mountain spines, through lush valleys, across sheer cliffs, behind thundering waterfalls, and beneath ancient trees. They were lined with totems, obelisks, and statues, carved anywhere from a year to a millennium ago, honoring their ancestors and warding off misfortune. While traveling, they decided to avoid passing through villages unless absolutely necessary. Considering the reception they got when they first arrived, it was better to remain undetected until they reached the capital, and two weeks after leaving Uther, they finally arrived.
Duravound, the heart of the dwarven kingdom, stood before them. It was built into a hollowed-out mountain, with half of the city and the royal palace underground, and the other half of the city, as well as the necessary farms and ranches, above ground. Even from a distance, the master stonework and masonry were clear for all to see, both in the construction of the buildings and decorations. The mountain itself was adorned with great statues and effigies carved into the rock, projecting the image of great dwarven lords and their history. Numerous chimneys fattened the mountain clouds with smoke from the dwarven foundries. The slopes of the surrounding mountains had been carved out for terrace farming and raising livestock, all to feed to bustling population.
The city was situated on the banks of a great lake, which served as the local harbor, and a river led to the sea, allowed ships to come and go. Though mostly known for their love of mountains and rock, the dwarves had a long history of seafaring, both as lucrative merchants and as roving marauders, conquering coastal towns like tiny Vikings. Their small stature and lower center of gravity helped them stay balanced in choppy waters and avoid falling overboard, and made it easy for them to live and work in the cramped conditions below deck.
“Ah, it’s even more beautiful than I dared dream!” Foley exclaimed.
“Hey, in any of your past lives, did you visit a dwarf city like this?” Daniel asked Noah.
“Nope. Even after everything I’ve seen, this is pretty damn cool.”
They circled the lake and entered the outside district, riding through the stone streets with the dwarven crowds parting to let them pass, all surprised to see humans in their city. Unlike Colbrand, almost the entire city was made out of brick, mortar and cement, with wood used sparingly. Passing by a house under construction, Noah spotted the use of metal reinforcement for pouring concrete. Though Vandheim had closed itself off from Uther, it was still flourishing in trade from nations across the seas, as well as riches hewn from the ground. The air was full of the sounds of business and merriment, and the aromas of countless kitchens and food stalls. The group grabbed a bite to eat as they headed for the mountain.
They arrived to find a vast gate with a pair of doors the size of a basketball court, ornately decorated and strong enough to withstand any siege engine. The gates were open, allowing citizens to pass back and forth freely, but as Noah’s group approached, a line of soldiers moved quickly to block their path.
“Halt!” their leader barked, his armor sporting the most intricate detailing. “The city is closed to outsiders! What is your business here?”
Noah turned to Seraph and motioned for him to step forward. Seraph dismounted his horse and approached. “I am Seraph Albion, Crown Prince of Uther, here for a diplomatic mission to meet with your king. I also come bearing a letter of introduction from our own king, His Majesty, Adwith Tarnas.” Seraph presented the scroll, bound with the royal seal. The dwarf leader was not ranked high enough to read it, but he confirmed the seal with some confusion. Suffice it to say, Noah and the others didn’t exactly look like a royal entourage.
“My apologies, but this is the first I’m hearing of any kind of visit. I am Captain Rodham, and I must deliver this letter to the royal palace and get new orders before I can grant you entry. I’ll have to ask you and your party to wait here until I receive an answer.”
“Then we shall wait.”
They all dismounted their horses and moved off to the side so that people could pass by, though they continued to receive strange looks for it. Time passed; five minutes became ten minutes, ten minutes became half an hour, half an hour became a full hour, and so on. Daniel eventually decided that now was a good time to make some money. He set out his open guitar case and started to play, trying to encourage passers-by to drop some change. He played with his magic sealed, lest the group be accused of trying to brainwash the citizens. The dwarves standing guard didn’t say anything to rebuke or encourage him, and their expressions were hard to read under their helmets and thick beards, but it seemed like they enjoyed the music.
“Is it normal for us to be kept waiting so long?” Shannon asked with a low voice.
“It’s possible we caught them at a bad time,” said Valia. “Still, it reminds me of how we were treated in Sylphtoria, unfortunately.”
“At least, this time, I don’t have an arrow in my leg,” Noah added.
“I’m just glad we ate before we got here,” said Sophia, who had Cyrilo snoozing in her lap in feline form.
Finally, Captain Rodham returned. “Please forgive the long wait. You have been granted entry. We will provide an escort to the palace and take care of your horses.”
They followed him into the city and were amazed at the sight that met their eyes. A vast chasm had been carved out in the mountain, either by hand or by nature, and the dwarves had used it to construct Duravound. It was just one of many; the mountain seemed to have been hollowed out, with multiple gargantuan chambers holding the various city districts. Homes, businesses, temples, and all manner of buildings had been carved into the walls, with great bridges and stairwells connecting the various levels and districts. Pillars of stone supported the cavern ceiling and were carved into beautiful statues. Glowing crystals were used to illuminate the streets and pathways, with the roof of the chamber looking like a starry sky. The streets were just as packed and joyful inside as outside, with the dwarves feeling naturally at home below ground.
While crops that needed sunlight were grown outside, all the gardens here were used to raise mushrooms. These mushrooms were assisted in their growth by the surprising humidity in the air, with steam rising from many houses. Upon closer inspection, Noah realized that there were pipes leading to almost every home and running throughout the city. He had read that Duravound had unlocked the power of steam with their construction, but it still surprised him how thoroughly the system was designed.
“Whew, I didn’t think it would be so warm in here,” said Daniel.
“That is thanks to our geothermal heating,” said Rodham. “A magma vein runs underneath the city, and over the last few decades, we’ve learned how to channel water from the lake down into that vein and collect the resulting steam using an intricate network of pipes. We use that steam to provide homes with heat and running water, as well as spin wheels and gears for our machinery. The city is ventilated thanks to fans that spin with the power of steam, along with the bellows in the great foundry. We also use the magma vein as a source of molten ore. While you’re here, you should take the chance to enjoy our bathhouses.”
Rodham led them through the city, and as always, they received strange glares from everyone. Of course, with their stature, it was hard to blend in. They approached the far side of the cavern, where several passages led into the next chamber. High above their heads in the cavern wall was an alcove with a massive bell. Even from a distance, the etchings and carved effigies were clearly visible, displaying the city’s rich history.
“That is the Bell of Zhad Dür,” said Rodham, “used to alert the public for gatherings, such as an address from the king, mass funerals after mining accidents and battles, live performances, communal prayers, and a last line of defense in case of attack. On the other side of this wall are the palace and gathering area.”
They entered the long corridors, lit with glowing crystals, and finally stepped out into a vast amphitheater. Tiered seating stretched behind them, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of dwarves. Thanks to the cavern acoustics, anything said down at the lowest level would reach the highest, allowing the king to address all of his subjects at once. Built into the back of the chamber was the royal palace, decorated with numerous statues and cathedral-like architecture. A wall with a portcullis separated the castle from the amphitheater, also serving as a raised stage for the king or other official.
In front of the gate were two high-ranking dwarves and several heavily-armed soldiers. One of the men in charge was garbed with an impressive set of armor and a gorgeous sword hanging at his waist, not unlike Rodham’s own equipment, but placing him far higher on the military pecking order. He gave off a similar aura as Berholm, defensive but reliable. The other was dressed in the fine clothes of a noble and sported a black, braided beard, glaring at Noah’s group with icy eyes and thinly-veiled hate. Though he went by another name as a politician of Duravound, his kin knew his as Ragar. Noah’s instincts told him that he would be trouble, but he didn’t sense anything specifically amiss.
“Lord Sados, General Aldhim, I’d like to introduce Crown Prince Seraph Albion and his party,” said Rodham with a bow.
“Thank you, Captain. You may leave,” said the general.
As Rodham departed, Ragar stepped forward. “I am Lord Hidon Sados, advisor to our glorious king. I am pleased to welcome the esteemed prince of Uther to our nation, especially considering how much hardship your nation has experienced of late. That said, I’m afraid I cannot grant you permission to speak to the king. Whatever business you have with our leader, I shall be taking his place, and conferring to him only what issues and information I deem as worthy to meet his ears.”
As he spoke, Ragar subtly eyed Noah. Though not beyond his expectations, Noah’s arrival put his whole plan in jeopardy. All communications between Uther and Vandheim had been personally intercepted to keep the two nations apart until it was too late. Still, once again, the Wandering Spirit was getting in the way. He had taken precautions to keep his Profane identity hidden, from utilizing special eyedrops to make his red eyes brown, to makeup to conceal his pale ghoul complexion, to a ring that sealed his unholy aura. He also routinely filed down his fangs, and living in Duravound made it easy to avoid going out into the sun. That said, the way Noah was looking at him, it was clear he remained under suspicion, if not for his lineage, then for his agenda. He’d have to play this carefully.
“I don’t understand. It is customary for royalty to meet with royalty in situations like these. Besides, you did receive word that we’d be coming,” said Seraph.
“Given the internal struggles your country has suffered as of late, as well as its pro human-supremacy stance, it was deemed best that we minimize contact for the foreseeable future,” said Ragar.
“Those struggles were rectified weeks ago,” said Noah. “Sir Adwith Tarnas has become king and is working to undo the damage of his predecessor. We are likewise here to repair the bridge between Uther and Vandheim, and make sure that your nation is prepared to face the Pro—”
“Stop right there,” Aldhim interrupted. “The nation of Vandheim does not recognize the Profane as a resurgent threat. They were exterminated centuries ago, and any claims as to their return are groundless lies used for political leverage.”
“That you would choose to peddle such falsehoods is why you cannot meet the king,” said Ragar.
“Groundless?” Shannon asked, bewildered. “My clan was wiped out by the Profane! My father was turned into one of them! I was in Welindar and Colbrand when they were besieged by the Profane! How dare you—” Noah stopped her from stepping forward.
“Welindar and Colbrand were both destroyed by armies of beastman savages,” Ragar shot back. Don’t try to cover up their barbarity by digging up an enemy from the past.”
Again, Noah had to stop Shannon from advancing on him.
“You say our claims are groundless? Then I shall provide proof,” he said. He held out his hand and conjured one of his Carthace blades, causing the dwarven general and guards to become tense and prepare themselves to draw their weapons. The moment Ragar saw the sword, he scowled fiercely, recognizing it both from sight and aura. “This weapon was made from one of the legs of a high-ranking Profane that my companions and I fought in Handent. It is inked with her venom to inflict heightened damage to fiends like her, and I used it to carve through their ranks when they swarmed Welindar and Colbrand. Are you really going to deny the existence of what is right in front of your eyes?”
“I have never seen a weapon like that before,” said Aldhim with a cold sweat. “This feeling it gives off….”
“Aldhim, snap out of it!” Ragar barked. “The only thing before my eyes is the agent of an enemy country, threatening myself, my king, and my country with an evil weapon of a bygone era! Leave this place, now! And never come back!”
All of the dwarven guards then drew their weapons, ready to attack. Noah put his sword back into his ring. “Very well. We’ll leave for now, but don’t expect us to return to Uther any time soon. We’ll be staying in the city until your king comes to his senses.”
“No, you will depart from our nation immediately!”
“I repeat: we will be staying in the city until we speak with your king. Perhaps I forgot to mention that you are addressing more than the prince of Uther.” He pointed his thumb at Shannon. “She is a princess of Handent.” Shannone tried to keep a straight face, though Noah’s ploy left her shocked. While it was true that she could technically be regarded as royalty within the Petosic horse tribe, to call her a princess of Handent felt like a risky exaggeration. Noah then revealed his mantle from Sylphtoria, flashing the silver crest. “And I am a Sylphtorian lord. It should go without saying that such rude treatment of the dignitaries of Vandheim’s three neighbors would be an incredibly foolish move. Elves do not forget rudeness, humans are quick to anger, and beastmen pride honor above all else. How do you think our three nations will respond to such poor manners from our host?”
“I don’t care! I want you out, now! Soldiers, remove them from my sight!”
“Belay that order!” Aldhim called. He then grasped Ragar by the shoulder. “Calm yourself, old friend. What’s gotten into you? We can’t resort to violence now.”
Ragar glared at him in disbelief and annoyance. He had been banking on the general’s bullheadedness to help him expel Noah’s party from Duravound, but Aldhim wasn’t foolish enough to risk antagonizing three countries at once. More than that, it looked like the sight of that sword had really shaken him. Though Ragar kept his Profane nature concealed from Aldhim and the other members of the royal court, the seasoned warrior could feel the dark aura of that piece of Carthace with crystal clarity. Ragar could not allow Noah and his friends to remain in the city, but the soldiers around him would not obey so long as Aldhim was there to disagree.
“It’s just a bluff. Uther, Handent, and Sylphtoria are in no position to do anything to us. The elves never leave their forest, the humans are too busy waging a civil war, and the beastmen are just savages wrestling in the mud. None of them care about our nation, so we shouldn’t care about what they think of us. They’re not going to march all the way here just because we expelled their diplomats. We need to banish them and be done with it.”
“No, we need to inform the king and give him the chance to reevaluate. He doesn’t have all the facts. An old serpent like you should be the first to step back and think in the face of new information.”
“I’m glad there is still wisdom to be found here,” said Noah. “Let’s go.” They turned around to leave, and Aldhim spoke up.
“You there, you did not give us your name.”
Noah took off his hat and bowed his head. “In the south, I am called the Wandering Spirit. In the west, I am called Aegasviel. In the north, I am called Ralacad. Here in the west, you may call me Noah.”
They left the castle grounds, not risking a word until they were sure they were out of earshot.
Once they were a safe distance from the main gate, Seraph opened his mouth to speak. “I think—”
“Leaving so soon?”
She came out of nowhere, a girl in a white dress appearing on Seraph’s shoulder. She was barefoot, standing perfectly balanced on her big toe, with Seraph seemingly not even feeling her weight. Still, her sudden appearance made him jerk in surprise and trip, but rather than fall with him, she leaped into the air as lightly as a leaf on the breeze, fluttering weightlessly towards Valia. Valia drew her sword with lightning speed, not to attack, but to hold it out before her so the girl could land softly on the tip like a songbird on a branch with supernatural balance.
“Princess Cynatas, hello,” Valia said with a smile.
“Lady Valia Zodiac, it has been while.”
Now that she was still, everyone could see her properly. She looked human at first glance, but was actually part dwarf and part elf, possessing the stature of the former and the beauty and alluring figure of the latter. Her skin was like alabaster with pale blue eyes and silky black hair. Her hair and clothes fluttered in the nonexistent breeze, caused by an aura of wind that allowed her to float with little to no weight. Noah had heard about Princess Cynatas from Lupin, the adopted daughter of the previous king, as well as the granddaughter of an elf. He had remarked upon her stunning beauty, and the strangeness he felt in marrying someone almost three times his age. She was also an extremely adept user of wind magic, allowing her to move like a ghost.
Seraph, having tripped over his feet, rolled onto his back. “You’re Princess Cynatas? You were supposed to marry by brother!”
“Then you must Seraph.” She gently hopped off Valia’s sword, lingering in the air before landing on Seraph’s chest, appearing not to exert any weight upon him. “And how is my betrothed doing?”
“I-I-I’m afraid he’s… d-d-dead,” he stammered, shocked by her presence and boldness.
“I did not know him well, but it pains me to hear that. He seemed to be a good man.” She then pointed at Seraph’s face with her other foot, posing as if she was a ballerina with a coy smile on her face. “And I suppose you’re here to take his place and take me as your blushing bride?”
Seraph didn’t respond, having a hard enough time trying to swallow the lump in his throat.
“Your Highness, please don’t tease him. We’re actually here on urgent business,” said Valia.
“I’m just having a little fun. I have to find it wherever I can,” Cynatas said as she hopped off of Seraph and turned to her. “It’s good to see you, Lady Zodiac. How long has it been? Ten? Twenty years?”
“Probably fifteen or so. You’re looking well. My deep condolences for the loss of your father and brother.”
“Thank you, but I notice your brother isn’t here with us either. Is he…?”
“He’s… working on a project. I’ll meet up with him soon.”
“Let me guess, you’re here because of the return of the Profane?”
“That’s exactly right,” said Noah, stepping forward.
She looked at him with an amused smile. “And you must be the Wandering Spirit. Word of your exploits have reached us even here. According to the rumors, you’re described as a degenerate whoreson. Hopefully you’ll manage to bring some entertainment to this city and alleviate my boredom.”
“Monger. Whoremonger,” he corrected.
Valia let slip a small snort and turned to him. “What?!” she asked, laughing.
“That’s what I love about you, Val. You have the best sense of humor.”
“Well, if you want to try to convince the king, I warn you that you have your work cut out for you. The stubborn old fool will never acknowledge their return. The last joker who tried to warn us made a big show of it and is rotting in prison for his crimes.”
“But do you acknowledge their return?” Alexis asked.
“Yes, I do, but I’m afraid that amounts to very little. If you’re hoping that I can help you convince the king, think again. I have no power or influence in this new dynasty. Frankly, I’m surprised I haven’t been done away with yet. I’m only kept around as a memento of the previous king, a decoration. I’m sure you can imagine why the adopted princess with mixed blood and wind magic is not adored by the public or the powers that be.”
“There has to be some way to get through to him,” said Valia.
“I’m sure I could sneak into the palace and talk to the king,” said Noah. “The challenge would be doing it without him throwing a fit and calling for his guards. I’ve found that people aren’t very keen on listening to what you have to say when you have to restrain and gag them.”
“If you try to talk to the king alone, you won’t get anywhere. If you try to talk to the king with Ragar in the room, you’ll get the opposite of anywhere. Might I suggest dropping them both down a mine shaft?”
“Now there’s an idea,” said Noah. “Remove them both and install a ruler more realistic and sympathetic to our cause.” Everyone looked at him in shock. “What, you think this is my first time toppling a government to install a puppet regime? This is basic global politics.”
“Oh, I like you,” said Cynatas.
“Noah, we’re not toppling any governments. We need a way to get through to the king and bring him to our side, not turn the entire nation against us,” said Valia. “Your Highness, please don’t encourage him. I have a hard enough time keeping him on the right side of the law, and he doesn’t need any more royalty in his lap.”
“I’m just teasing. Besides, I already have my eye on someone. Anyway, I just stopped by to say hello and see what was all the fuss was about. I think I’ll be on my way.”
“Your Highness, forgive me for speaking out, but I implore you to take this seriously,” said Sophia. “The Profane are not a threat that can simply be ignored. They will destroy this city just like they did Welindar and Colbrand. We’ve seen the carnage they bring and we don’t want it to happen here.”
“Duravound is my home, and I certainly don’t want its citizens to suffer or die. And yet, I can’t help but wonder, if this city was destroyed, perhaps I would finally be free. Food for thought. Anyway, let’s speak again soon. Gods know this city needs more interesting people.”
She then effortlessly hopped up onto a nearby streetlamp, and from there, onto the castle ramparts, bouncing off into the distance with her white dress fluttering.
“That chick was awesome,” said Daniel. “What do you think?” he then asked Foley.
“Cute, but too skinny for me. I like a girl that I can roll like a cheese wheel. Seraph, what about you?” Foley asked, elbowing Seraph in the knee. Seraph didn’t reply, but the expression his face was easy to read. He was smitten.
“That was Princess Cynatas,” said Valia. “Her whimsical nature aside, she is highly intelligent. Unfortunately, due to her lineage, she was never allowed to leave the castle, at least from what I heard. I assume she only dares wander the city now because her adoptive father is dead, but I imagine she’s still barred from going outside.”
As they spoke, Cynatas moved from the castle to the city, leaping from building, to flag pole, to lamppost, making her way to another cavern and, with it, another city district. However, there were no homes or businesses, only soldiers standing guard, and she evaded their gaze with ease. The walls of the cavern, as well as numerous thick pillars holding up the ceiling, were covered in chambers, like the honeycomb of a beehive, each sealed shut with a heavy steel door, sporting only a small barred window. This was the city prison, but since exile was such a common punishment for criminals, most of the cells were empty, housing only the local clusters of bats. Still, there were some lawbreakers kept under lock and key, simply because it was too much of a risk to let them go, and Cynatas was going to meet with one.
There were no walkways available, as they were extended using magic only at certain times, such as for patrols and to feed the inmates. The rest of the time, each wing of the prison was an insurmountable cliff wall, but Cynatas needed only the smallest toe hold to perch on outside of the cell in question. She gripped the bars of the small window and whistled into the darkness.
“And how is my favorite caged bird? Will you sing for me today?”
She heard muffled movement, and leaning into the dim light appeared Roc with a weary smile, crouching by the window. “Must you call me that every time we meet?”
“Why not? After all, it’s what we have in common, isn’t it?”
“True, but your cage is much nicer than mine.”
She leaned her head through the bars as much as she could and kissed him. “Yet I would rather be in yours with you, than alone in mine.”
“Well, you certainly do brighten the darkness here.”
“I thought you might be interested to know that some people have come from Uther. It’s your old friend, the Wandering Spirit.”
“Wait, Noah’s here?”
“He and his friends tried to speak to the king about the Profane but were turned away.”
“Really? Then why aren’t they in the cells next to mine?”
“Because they just walked away after they were refused. They didn’t break into the city, perch atop the tallest steeple, and shout at the top of their lungs that the Profane had returned over and over like a shrieking crow.”
“After what I saw in Colbrand, I couldn’t be passive about it.”
“Well, maybe with their help, we can break you out of here.”
“As great as that would be, I don’t want to leave Duravound without you.”
“You know it’s not that simple.”
“Then let’s make it simple. I want us both to fly free in the sky, away from here.”
“When you speak like that, I feel like I already am. They also told me that Prince Lupin, my betrothed, has been slain. In that regards, it seems I’m finally free.”
Then an angry voice echoed from down below. “Hey! You! Get away from there!”
“Spotted again,” Cynatas sighed.
“Though it pains me to say it, you come by too often. They know to look for you now.”
“Then I guess we have to get you out of here all the sooner.” She leaned forward again and the two shared another passionate kiss. She then turned and leaped into the vast open space, with Roc wishing he could fly away with her.
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