Dragon's Archon - Ch. 16 - Liberty's Trinity - Alpha

With my new murder beast in tow, I walked back toward the town. The lowering sun and thick canopy forced my eyes to shift to see in the low light. The trek took more than twice as long, and we didn’t get close until after dark.

On my way back, my mind roamed restlessly about Yda and Ophelia. My guilt weighed heavy on my conscience for what I’d accidentally done. I selfishly wanted everything to go back to how things were, but my past experience told me that was a long shot.

As I thought about how to make that happen, I noticed a beautiful bush of pink flowers with long yellow stems that reminded me of lilies. I stopped and picked out three different bundles.

“What are you doing, master?” Malice asked.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” I jested. “I’m picking flowers.”

“Why?”

“As a gift for Ophelia, Yda, and Cartha. I’m hoping it will help Ophelia and Yda forgive me for the mishap earlier. And I figured it would be rude of me not to bring back some for Cartha. Would you like some?”

“Why would I want flowers? They burn.”

“It’s more of the thought that counts. Its a token of appreciation.”

“I have no need.”

“If I were to give you a gift, what would you like?”

“Well… I could think of one thing,” Malice said slyly.

I chuckled. “You can get that pretty much any time. I’m being serious. What would you really like?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never received a gift.”

I stood and cocked my brow. “Ninazu never gave you a gift?”

“No. I was his instrument. Would you give your hammer a gift?”

“I would if it was sentient.”

“Well, he didn’t.”

“And I’m not him. So tell me. What would you want?”

After leaving the bush, we marched through the forest for a few more minutes before Malice spoke again. “I… I could use some mitarium ingots.”

“What’s mitarium?”

“It’s a dwarven metal alloy. It’s supposedly stronger than wyvern scales. If you could get it for me, I could absorb it into my body and mold it into my transmutations for you, making us both stronger.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” I asked, looking up. “You don’t want something just for yourself?”

“Yes, this is what I want. It will make us both more powerful.”

“Is it hard to come by?”

“Yes, and I’m sure it would be expensive.”

“Then, I’ll keep an eye out.”

Malice didn’t respond, but I was certain I could feel her excitement through my clothes as if they were vibrating. I couldn’t help but smile. She seemed easy to please given her single-minded focus which was important given her rough edges with the rest of my party. We continued the remaining trek in silence.

Once I could see the tower above me, I ordered my minion to lie down. After dispelling my magic, I spent the next ten minutes grabbing nearby brush to cover him. The density of the forest already provided plenty of covering. However, I didn’t want a random scout to come by and notice him until I was ready to leverage him.

The potential smell also worried me. As soon as I pulled the Death Magic from the corpse’s body, a piece of flesh slipped from the bone. I hoped that I’d stashed him far enough away where the wind wouldn’t drag the smell to the city or worse, the tower.

Resuming my hunched stance, I hurried back into the tower. I found Ophelia and Yda sitting at the main table. They’d brought the stacks of books and writing supplies to the main level. The remains of a late supper sat on plates nearby.

Upon hearing my arrival, both of my companions’ heads perked up. I waited until the door shut before commanding Malice to shift my hood back to my bandana. Once the transmutation was complete, I approached the pair with my hand held behind my back, waiting to be revealed.

“How was your test, Your Holiness?” Ophelia asked.

“Successful,” I said with a wide grin. “Very successful, in fact.”

“That’s exciting. What did you accomplish?”

“I was able to manipulate Death Magic to animate a corpse.”

“Of what? A snake perhaps?”

“A terror scrofas.”

Ophelia’s jaw dropped. “You managed to raise a terror scrofas?”

“Yup.”

Ophelia and Yda shared a wide-eyed glance before the sorceress said, “That’s… impressive. Did you find it dead?”

I puffed up my chest, reveling in my pride. “No. Malice and I continued through the forest until I found something large enough to test my theory on. I want something my size or larger. The first thing we stumbled on was a herd of terror scrofases. I spooked the herd, got attacked by the alpha, and had to slay it.”

“Master was quite remarkable,” Malice said, stroking my ego.

“And it wasn’t wounded?”

I leaned back on my hip and frowned. “Not that I could tell. Why?”

Ophelia’s brows shot up. “Oh… it’s just terror scrofases are known for their ferocity. An alpha could kill a few dozen soldiers before being taken down. I’m just surprised.”

I pointed over my shoulder. “If you want to go take a look, it’s sitting about a hundred feet into the brush nearby.”

Ophelia raised her hands. “No, I believe you. I didn’t mean to insult your accomplishment, Your Holiness. I’m just astonished. Even a well-trained sorcerer would have a tough time subduing such a formidable beast.”

“Well, it should provide an excellent investment to help deal with the local forces should things get out of hand. But that wasn’t all I came back with.”

“Oh?”

I approached the table and pulled the flowers from behind my back. “I’m not sure if it’s the same here, but in my past life a small gift for ones you care about are flowers. I know what happened earlier was horrible, and I truly apologize for what happened. Please accept this as a small token of my deepest apologies.”

Both women looked at each other before covering their mouths trying to suppress their laughter.

My grip tightened as I asked, “Is something funny?”

Yda choked as she attempted to speak. “It’s not you, Your Holiness. Do you know what those are?”

I looked down at the flowers. “Some kind of lilies?”

“Yes, but they are sunwasp lilies. They are covered in a wax that causes intense rashing.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me…” I groaned.

Both women burst into laughter. At first, I was upset, but their laughter became infectious. I couldn’t help but chuckle along at my own luck. By the time we finished, we were all wiping tears from our eyes.

“What should I do with these?” I asked.

“I’d hate for you to throw them out,” Ophelia said. “They are beautiful.” She glanced about the room before heading toward an arch. “Give me a moment. I’ll be right back.”

I watched her go before feeling a tug on my pant leg. When I looked down, Yda waved me toward her. I kneeled, and she leaned forward, kissing me on the cheek.

“Thank you for the gift,” she said, her cheeks glowing a bright red. “I appreciate you trying to make me feel better.”

“Of course,” I said. “I meant what I said. I would never intentionally harm you. I hope you know that.”

“I do,” Yda said before looking down. “It was just… The aura… I can’t begin to describe it. It was everything that I feared coming from you at once. It made me feel like you hated me. Heluna too. You told me I’m worthless. That my devotion to Heluna was meaningless. That I’d wasted all this time running. And the worst part… that you were going to kill me.”

I dropped my hammer and flowers to pull the priestess in my arms. “My god… Yda. I would never. You are so important to me. Your devotion and happiness keeps me going every minute. I had this hole in my gut after what’d happened. You and I are a team. I never want to see you upset, and I will never ever hurt you like that again.”

Yda pulled away until she was inches from my face. “You promise?”

“I promise.”

She bit her lip as she looked up at me. Her ruby red eyes sparkled in the candlelight, matched by her soft rosy cheeks. The warmth of her breath caressed my chin as my eyes bounced at her trembled lip. My entire body lit with excitement as we inched closer.

We both jerked back as several muted thumps echoed from the door and the tower’s jingle alerted us that we had a visitor. Ophelia returned through a portal only seconds later. I picked up my hammer and asked Malice to shift into my armor. Once she’d completed the transformation, I instructed Ophelia to cover Yda while I opened the door.

To my surprise, after the doors opened, there was no one there. A bottle with a rolled-up piece of parchment in it lay on the ground instead. I picked it up, smashed the glass in my hand, and rolled out the parchment.

To the owner of the tower,

Come to the docks tonight. Bring one thousand gold. Failure to do so and there will be consequences.

-Liberty’s Trinity

I conjured a thin layer of magma, burning the paper in my hand.

As the door closed behind me, Ophelia asked, “What did it say?”

“They want a thousand gold and for me to come alone,” I said.

“A thousand gold? That’s an enormously egregious amount for the plot of land that the tower inhabits. No doubt they are trying to send a message.”

“The dogs scratch at death’s door!” Malice hissed. “They do not know who they trifle with.”

“I agree. They’re likely using it as a test. One to see how much financial resources we have and another to see if you’re confident or stupid enough to come alone.”

“They dare question, master’s ability? Their slight against him will be their downfall.”

Ophelia let out an elongated sigh. “It does seem foolish on their part to threaten him. Maybe their capture of the princess has emboldened them?”

“Perhaps,” I said. “It does seem odd that they feel confident in dealing with us as a threat. Especially knowing that we could be tied to the princess.”

“What do you want to do?”

I paced around the room taking a moment to think. Not having Ophelia with me meant not being able to have her scry on the individuals. But I couldn’t leave Yda by herself.

Taking them both when asked not to, would start everything on the wrong foot and put them in danger. I needed to play up being the Blackthorn while gathering more intel of the three in the event that Cartha hadn’t come up with anything. An idea popped into my head.

“Ophelia, can you scry only on people or objects too?” I asked.

“I can scry on pretty much anything,” the sorceress said. “Why?”

“Do you have a thousand gold you can loan me? I’m confident we’ll get it back.”

“I do but—” Her furrowed brow faded. She stood straight and smiled. “Ah, I think I know what you’re planning.”

“What?” Yda asked.

“You want me to scry on the gold to see where they take it with the idea that they might take it to where they keep their stash. Which might be where they’re holding the princess.”

“Exactly!” I said, pointing my finger at her. “Even if it’s not where they are holding the princess, knowing where they keep their treasure would be beneficial.”

“What happens if they don’t take the gold to their stash?” Yda asked.

“Then we’ll be out of a thousand gold, but we’ll have plenty more once we rescue the princess,” I said.

Ophelia pointed over her shoulder. “Shall I go get the gold and the material components for the spell?”

I hesitated before nodding. Ophelia left through a portal and returned moments later. She carried a bag of gold, some gems, and a pouch of dust. After retrieving her crystal ball from her pocket dimension, she set everything on the table.

The red-dressed sorceress pulled out a single gold coin and set it aside. With a wave of her hands, she spoke an incantation. A ritual circle appeared underneath the coin and the material components. Fire erupted from the circle, melting the pixie dust and gems but not igniting the table. The coin glowed a bright white as Ophelia chanted. Upon completion, the coin returned to normal.

“Yda, can you shove the coin in the bottom of the bag for me, please?” Ophelia asked.

The small priestess rushed over, standing on her tiptoes as she reached for the coin and shuffled it around. “Okay, it’s done.”

“Your Holiness, the bag is ready for you. You can take it at any time.”

“How long will the spell last?” I asked after picking up the bag.

“I’ve readied the spell. I plan on waiting an hour before scrying the coin, given it’s going to take you some time to get there and for the meeting to start. Once I begin, I shall be able to maintain it for up to an hour. If it takes longer, I’ll need another infusion with material components which Yda can help me with.”

“That works. I should probably get going, then.”

Yda squeezed herself around my leg before looking up. “Be careful, Your Holiness.”

“I’ll try,” I said with a smile. I ran my fingers through her curly hair before turning away.

Ophelia approached my side and gripped my plated arm. “Be mindful of Liberty’s Trinity. They did not get to their positions of power without cunning. If things turn chaotic, do not be afraid to retreat to the tower.”

“I’ll keep that in mind and be back as soon as I can.”

With a nod, she let go, and I marched out the door. It was a short trek down the steep incline to the settlement below. Even though it was the middle of the night, the roar of the town’s inhabitants was ever present.

When I reached the closest road, four of the Duskblade soldiers stood waiting for me. I could tell they heard me before they saw me, based on their squinting eyes. As I came into view, they all drew their blades. I kept my hammer at my side as I approached slowly. Even without my aura activated, each of the men backpedaled, wide-eyed.

“I’ve accepted your commander's offer,” I said in my deep, brooding voice. “I’m going to the docks.”

The men looked at each other before a grizzled man with bear-like ears stepped forward. “We’re to escort you.”

“I wasn’t told there would be an escort.”

“This is for your own protection. You’re an outsider, and the people don’t know you. It’s better this way.”

“Isn’t Liberty Bay known to take in outcasts?” I asked, calling his bluff.

The man grimaced and raised his weapon. “We’re not letting you into the city unless by escort. Boss’s rules. Either we go with you or you turn around.”

How dare he raise his weapon at you, master! Malice thought. You should crush their skulls beneath your boot.

My hand tightened around my hammer and I glanced up. There were already dozens of onlookers sitting on their porches watching the events unfold. I took in a deep breath and exhaled.

Word must have gotten around, I thought. While I’d love nothing more than to go through these men, I need to keep calm.

I opened my mind to Malice. No, I’m not going to kill them. We must maintain restraint unless they strike first. Pay attention to any incoming threat.

Yes, master, my passenger said.

“Very well,” I said to the soldiers before pointing above them. “Lead on.”

Two of the men flanked my back as the others walked forward. Liberty Bay lacked the refinement of Nubia. The streets were a mix of sand, dirt, and mud. Many of the buildings looked as though they would fall over if a strong enough wind blew across the island. They lacked complexity, with many being little more than single room huts on stilts, with their inhabitants sitting on their porches smoking or drinking.

As we got closer to the docks, the higher the wealth. Shops and services buildings were built with thicker logs and more robust platforms. Hand-painted signs hung over the doorways, showing what they provided. Stick fences circled their yards.

It was clear the residents of Liberty Bay also lacked the grace found in their sister city. Their clothes were all caked in sand with tattered edges. Many lacked shoes; their toes blackened from the buildup of recessed grime. The inebriated lay passed out in the nearby sand.

I kept my grip tight around my hammer as we continued on. Every head turned as I walked through the streets. Onlookers whispered to each other when I passed by. Those brave enough gripped the hilts of their weapons. I couldn’t complain. This is what I’d planned for, but still needed to be ready.

After we reached the docks, we veered to a warehouse nearby. It was one of the largest structures on the island. Its dark wood planks were not natural from the island. They were reinforced with weather-worn bricks on each corner. A cupola opened above the bottom gates.

Over a dozen Duskblades stood guarding the front. Another ten patrolled around the surrounding area. With so much security, I assumed whatever was inside was important.

Malice, before we go in here, I want you to practice restraint, I thought to my companion. If you feel the need to vent, do so to me. Not to anyone else. Is that understood?

Yes, master, Malice said.

When the doors opened, I paused. The interior was completely empty except for an army of armed guards standing along the walls. Several bowmen stood in the rafters above with their weapons trained on me. Four chairs sat in the middle of the room, three of which were filled by whom I assumed were Liberty’s Trinity members.

“Inside you go,” a guard said behind me.

I shuffled inside, glancing back when the doors shut behind me. The three Liberty’s Trinity members stood from their chairs as I approached. Unlike their men, they each held their composure.

Lady Florence was the best dressed. She wore an elegant pink and white dress that matched her lush tail. Small flowers hung around her pointed ears like a crown. The crows feet around her eyes revealed older age, but otherwise she held onto her beauty. As she smoked from a long cigarette holder, she gazed at me with a subtle smirk.

I couldn’t tell what Venom Vedatori was. His plague doctor mask, long jacket, and gloves covered every inch of his body. He was tall and thin. A row of vials of an assortment of colors hung from a bandolier across his chest and belt. He tilted his head in an almost bird-like fashion as he eyed me up and down.

The Butcher definitely lived up to his name. He was wide bodied and thick armed like a dwarf but as tall as a human. While he had no beard, his mutton chops were perfectly trimmed. He wore a blood-stained brown leather coverall over his clothes. The weapon he spun on its point matched his name. It looked like an elongated cleaver that was shaped into a sword. As I stepped into view, he spit on the ground in front of him.

“Shall we get started?” Venom asked, his voice muted behind his mask.

“No, we still have one more we’re waiting for,” Lady Florence said.

“Why?” the Butcher asked. “She’s not one of us.”

“Yes, she is. We all agreed.

“You two did. Not me.”

“Be that as it may, she deserves to be here. Nyla may provide valuable insight into our… guest.” At the sound of the doors opening, Lady Florence raised her hand. “Ah, there she is.”

When I glanced over my shoulder, my eyes widened. It was the princess. It wasn’t just the hair full of golden snakes. She had the same sharp cheekbones and piercing eyes as her mother. But what was more shocking was she was not in chains nor being escorted like a prisoner. She strolled in with her chest held high, like she deserved to be there. When she took her station in front of the empty chair, everything clicked.

It all makes sense, I thought to Malice. It was a stupid move from the start for Liberty’s Trinity to antagonize Queen Sekhet like they did. The princess must have talked the others into faking her kidnapping. But why would she do that?

Hate is a strong motivator, master, Malice thought. You heard it from the queen herself. She and the princess had been at odds for years. Time builds resentment.

I thought about my own troubles with my family. Malice was right. While I’d never thought about doing anything as drastic as faking my own kidnapping, their scars transitioned lifetimes.

“Now can we get on with it?” the Butcher asked.

“Of course,” Lady Florence said. “As this is the first time we are all making acquaintances, I believe it is best to perform introductions.” As the brothel owner spoke, she extended a hand to each of her compatriots. “I am Lady Florence. To my right is Lady Amasi. To my left is Sir Vedatori, and next to him is Sir—”

“I’m not a sir!” the Butcher shouted with a curled lip. “You can just call me Butcher or the Butcher if you’re feeling generous.”

Odd, I thought. The princess is using a fake family name. Maybe she’s trying to hide her identity with the locals.

“And you, sir?” Lady Florence asked, extending her hand to me. “How may we address you?”

“You may call me Blackthorn,” I said.

The Butcher let out a bellowed laugh. “And I’m Dragarus.”

“Brick, please,” Lady Florence said, glaring before turning to the princess. “Nyla, are you familiar with this man?”

The snakes on her head all pointed to me, bobbing as they flicked their tongues. “I’ve never seen him before. Nor heard his voice. But I do have a question for you, Sir Blackthorn. Is that your tower out there?”

“It is.”

The snakes on Nyla’s head hissed as she shouted, “That, I know is a lie! That’s Ophelia the Red’s tower.”

“And if you know of her, then you know Ophelia the Red is my herald. She is the one who foretold my arrival.”

Nyla leaned forward, her eyes frantically darting as if I’d just shattered her world. “He’s right.”

“What a load of dragon shit,” the Butcher said. “That is nothing but an urban legend.”

“No, it’s true! Ophelia was a member of the Chalice of Thorns before her visions told of the arrival of the Blackthorn. She was shunned because of what she’d seen.”

“That’s my point. They kicked her out because she’s crazy.”

“But she’s not. I’ve met her multiple times. She’s of a sound mind.”

“Bickering will get us nowhere,” Lady Florence said, raising her hand between the two. “We’re not here to discuss the validity of who he says he is. He could say he’s Queen Azera for all I care. We’re here because Sir Blackthorn teleported a damn tower into our city, and we’d like to know why.”

I tossed the gold back on the ground. “I’m here to stake my claim and establish a kingdom.”

The Butcher flipped his sword onto his shoulder and growled. “You’re out of luck, chum. These are our islands. Ain’t no one claiming anything except us.”

“Yet, I was told there is a city east of here named Werea. So either you’re lying or just incompetent.”

As Malice’s cackling echoed into my mind, the Butcher clenched his teeth, took a step toward me, and pointed as he said, “Keep yapping your gums like that and you’ll find yourself as another slab on my table.”

“Brick, please,” Lady Florence said. “Now is not the time for violence. This is business.”

“There are several smaller islands to the west of us, you could explore,” Venom said.

I shook my head. “They won’t do. They’re too small.”

“But they’re bigger than Liberty Bay.”

“A kingdom needs room to expand. The main island is much more suitable. I will found to the east of here.”

“That would be problematic. In the same vein, we own the land to the east of here and need it for our own expansion.”

“Then it seems we are at an impasse.”

I waited as the group leaned in and whispered amongst themselves. It was clear the Butcher was in the minority. The veins in his forehead looked as if they were going to pop.

When they concluded, Lady Florence cleared her throat and spoke. “Sir Blackthorn, when you say kingdom, what are you envisioning? I assume you have some plans?”

It was an excellent question. I hadn’t completely thought it through. Instead, I allowed my ideas to flow on the spot.

“The jungle is thick and dangerous,” I said, pointing to the east. “I plan to clear it with flame. I will mark my territory with great walls and buildings made from molten earth. When all is finished, I will summon my glorious army to lay waste to my foes, starting with Archon Emperor Dupont.”

Murmurs rolled through the soldiers in the room, only to be silenced by Lady Florence’s shout. “Quiet, all of you! Show some discipline.” Once everyone settled down, the pink-furred woman continued. “That’s quite the declaration, Sir Blackthorn. And how do you plan on accomplishing all of that?”

“With this,” I said, conjuring an orb of dark energy. I heard the bowstrings pull back, and the soldiers drew their weapons. It was worth it. They needed to understand the power I wielded.

The group huddled once more. I heard Venom say, “Ash makes for an excellent fertilizer,” before they whispered. The minutes ticked on as their discussion went on. The Butcher’s wild eyes and waving hands were a clear enough sign that whatever was being decided by the group, he was not happy about. As time went on, each member shifted to one side, all standing against the man with mutton chops.

“This is a mistake!” the Butcher shouted. “Mark my words, you’ll all regret this.” The barrel chested man walked toward me and shoved his thick finger into my armor. “And you. Just give me one reason, and I’ll chop you down to the studs.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. My adversary was looking for a fight, but I was too interested to hear what the others had to say to give him one. As the Butcher left, most of the troops did so, too. Only the archers and a few loyal guards stayed back.

“We have a proposition,” Lady Florence said. “If you’ve spoken the truth about who you say you are and what you’re capable of, myself and my colleagues see the benefit of a potential alliance. As a free city separate from kingdom rule, Liberty Bay is surrounded by enemies. While Sir Elkhart is good at what he does, he and his men are not suited to fight against any sizable assault from the surrounding kingdoms. Walls, an army, these are things we see as welcomed additions. If you could prove to us of your capability, we’d be more than willing to share our land and even enter a similar agreement we share with Sir Elkhart, paying a percentage of our earnings for your protection. However, this is not an agreement of fealty or to pay a tithe. You would work with us. You would not interrupt our business dealings. How does that sound?”

My jaw dropped. I’d never expected them to turn on one of their own so easily. Nor did I expect them to make such a generous offer.

Were they that easy to break? I wondered. Could this have been something growing over time due to the Butcher’s incompetence? Or perhaps they fear what I’m capable of. Or could this be an elaborate trap for me to do their dirty work only to betray me once it’s finished?

As I contemplated my response, no matter the answer, having the group fighting amongst each other only benefited me. I just needed to shift all the pieces in my favor.

“It may be agreeable,” I said. “But how do you wish for me to prove my capability?”

“Twofold. We’d like you to help build a lighthouse. There have been several shipwrecks in the west because of tidal fog and jagged rocks. Second, we want your help to clear the nearby forest. Just a few acres to start. Once you complete that, we can discuss options for your territory on the central and eastern part of the island.”

The decision was simple to make. It offered me opportunities to exert and test my powers while giving me more time to figure out my long-term plans. While I’d found the princess, the offer extended to me was equal parts unexpected and intriguing.

Malice, is that something that could be possible? I asked. I’d assumed, given the way the Magma Manipulation perk read, I could shape the magma as I saw fit. When it would cool, it would be hard like rock?

Oh yes, master, Malice said. You’ll have full control over the flow, shape, and density.

“Very well,” I said to the group. “Have one of your men meet me at dawn and take me to where you’d like the lighthouse built.”

“Thank you Sir Blackthorn,” Lady Florence said with a brief bow. “We’re interested to see your results.”

I nodded before leaving the warehouse. As my escort led me back to the tower, my mind raced with my new opportunity.

What if I betrayed the queen?