Dungeon Bound Page 15

  Cindra’s sole accessory was the sword strapped to her back, while Sthuza wore a belt with several pouches and had a stylish green satchel slung over her shoulder. Both women grinned at his wordless stare, shifting about and posing.

  If I took them into the Guild tavern, it would drive every guy mad with envy.

  “You were right, Snakey!” Cindra yelled, drawing an echoing hissing from her shorter companion.

  Sthuza spun to face Cindra, sending the long, split skirts twirling about her slender legs. The gorgon glared up into bright-blue eyes. “What we talked about is secret, specifically from Master. Do you remember that?”

  “Cindra…” the hellhound said, trailing off when she saw the gorgon’s glare intensify. “I remember. I’m sorry.”

  “Much better,” Sthuza said, her harsh look softening before she turned to Gabriel. “Now, I believe we are ready to meet Lady Merideva.”

  He swallowed at the lump in his throat, then nodded.

  “Sounds good. Should I lead the way?” he asked, unsure if she would already know where to go.

  “She is in the Domain Management room on the fourth floor, yes?”

  “I guess so. It has a large black altar and an alcove behind it where the Crystal sat.”

  “Then, yes, I know the way.”

  Turning to Cindra, she gestured for the hellhound to go ahead.

  “She will take the lead, while I stay in the rear and watch your back.”

  With a shrug, Gabriel agreed, and the trio began retracing the route back toward the surface. Cindra occasionally stopped, turning back to the green-skinned woman, and Sthuza would instruct her which way to head.

  They spent most of the trip in silence, all three alert to the potential of hostile monsters, memory of the arachne ambush still fresh in their minds. The quiet gave him ample opportunities to pay attention to the athletic hellhound’s shapely ass as she led the way.

  Those boots look crazy impractical. But then so did Estrial’s. Although, the elf’s didn’t make her butt look nearly as good.

  Unable to avoid staring at the gorgeous woman in front, Gabriel shot a few furtive glances at his bonded gorgon. He couldn’t help admiring the similar effect her elaborate outfit and high heels were having on her more slender body.

  One is the living embodiment of female athleticism, the other a perfect image of noble grace. Maybe I really died, and this is Celestia?

  Feeling far safer than on his journey down, Gabriel let his mind wander. Mostly fantasizing about how eager the two beauties acted toward being with him. So it was a jarring surprise when Sthuza grabbed his arm, her sharp claws pricking his skin.

  “There are undead nearby, Massster,” she hissed quietly, her agile tongue tickling his ear as she leaned in close to warn him.

  Gabriel straightened instantly, and she released her hold, pointing to their companion.

  Cindra’s head swiveled side to side, her triangular ears twitching as she listened for sounds he couldn’t catch. On closer inspection, he noticed her cute button nose scrunched up, her sour expression suggesting she smelled something foul.

  Afraid to make any noise given how silent his two bonded were, Gabriel held his breath and strained to detect anything advancing. So focused on trying to hear something in the imposing silence, he flinched when the hellhound let out a rumbling growl from deep in her throat.

  Sthuza glanced at him, drawing her bow from the enchanted pouch at her belt. “They were tracking us. I fear we cannot avoid them.” She turned her attention back to Cindra. “How many are there?”

  “I smell a dozen corpses at least. Think they’re all coming from the front.”

  “Well, I would prefer not to take on such odds so early on. At least not without transforming, but we do what we must.”

  “Wait, why can’t you?” he asked, surprised by her harsh expression.

  “When you healed the dog, you thoroughly depleted my mana reserves. If I attempt to shift, either for the greater strength or to release the spell seal on my gaze, I could wind up too exhausted to fight,” Sthuza said, her words blameless and straightforward.

  Damn. Didn’t know I could tap my bonded for power. Is that safe? Mana depletion can be lethal. Need to be more cautious next time.

  “I will try to pick off as many as I can, while the walking rug cuts off their approach. I do not wish to tell you what to do, Master, but any support magic you have to help her would be beneficial here,” she said quickly. She nocked a black arrow, holding the bow ready but not fully drawn.

  A few seconds later, Gabriel heard the approaching enemies, and almost immediately after, he smelled them as well.

  No wonder she was wrinkling her nose. That’s the worst stench I’ve ever smelled. And her nose is way more sensitive.

  “Ah, I was correct,” a wheezing, scratchy voice called out, its sinister tone clawing at his ears. Stepping around the cave bend was a squad of ten shambling zombies, followed closely by several more pale-skinned undead.

  “Not good, Massster,” Sthuza hissed sharply. “Those are ghasts. Their poisonous claws are a serious threat.”

  Shit.

  He’d studied undead at the Academy; they were a common enough threat that the subject was essential for any magic users or adventurers. But he clearly hadn’t paid enough attention.

  He’d assumed the monsters were mere ghouls.

  Wish they were ghouls, but I can’t imagine Sthuza being mistaken about that. Silver weapons would be great right about now.

  The ten rotting corpses upfront formed a line and plodded toward Gabriel and his bonded.

  “Same plan?” he asked, keeping his voice steady, hoping to inspire confidence in his allies.

  “Yes, Master,” she said, taking aim at one of the shambling zombies and releasing.

  The black-feathered arrow flew true, crossing in a flash and sinking to the fletching in the Zombie’s left eye socket. That one dropped lifelessly to the hard stone, but the others took it as the signal to attack. Nine rotting corpses broke into a shuffling run toward them.

  “Kill the females, we’ll take the male back to our mistress,” the rearmost ghast said, haughtily. It was the same foul voice that had spoken earlier.

  “Yeah, forget that plan. How about you all leave before we make you re-dead!” Gabriel called out, then dove deep inside and began weaving magic.

  Need to keep them from getting their paralytic poison into Cindra, and I’d rather not test her new armor in this dangerous of a fight.

  His first spell decided, he impatiently formed the glyphs as he channeled mana through his arcane conduit and into a simple haste spell. Careful not to rush it too fast and squander his meager energy reserves, he empowered each symbol as thoroughly as possible, the spell circle coalescing in front of him.

  Gabriel fought down the urge to act sooner when he saw the zombies fall on Cindra in a wave of rotting flesh, trusting his bonded to protect herself long enough for him to support her.

  She waited until they seemed too close, then brought her massive sword around in a sweeping strike that cut three unsuspecting undead in half.

  Their distended bellies popped, thick coils of rotting intestines tumbling out. Unfortunately, being cleaved in two at the waist didn’t destroy them, and Gabriel gasped when one of the legless monsters latched onto her leather boots.

  It was a terrible mistake. Cindra growled furiously, drew her sword on the backswing to keep the other zombies at bay, and stomped down on the grasping creature’s rotten head.

  It popped like an overripe melon under a wagon wheel. Foul, blackish gore splattered up Cindra’s boot and the dark-blue leather armor, eliciting another outraged roar.

  “Don’t make nice clothes dirty!” she howled, kicking the offending corpse again and hurling it across the tunnel to slam against the cave wall.

  The cloying stench of their gangrenous flesh washed over Gabriel then, poisoning the air he breathed.

  Another black arrow flew past Cindra�
�s head. It took the closest ghast in the mouth, causing it to reel back, but it continued stalking the outnumbered swordswoman.

  The spell finishing startled Gabriel. Worry for his bonded had distracted him, but he quickly released the magic. Confident in the casting, he threw himself into another spell.

  He reached out through the Weave again and found his target. A single brush of the fiery presence within the coordinate system of reality confirmed Cindra’s location. Within seconds, he erected the beginnings of a shield spell around her robust form. It wouldn’t be as strong as one interwoven with a physical anchor. But he’d take anything he could get to protect the brave warrior from those foul claws.

  Another strong presence drew his attention through the Weave, and he recoiled in horror when he brushed against it with his magical senses. Foul, life-hating, and filled with unending ambition, the presence was sickening. Gabriel steadied himself and tracked it back to its physical body.

  Still in the rear of the attacking monsters, dressed in what was no doubt once luxurious black finery, was a potent ghast spellcaster.

  Shit. Starting to wish I’d taken the time to spell duel when I had the chance.

  Realizing that the fight was even farther from won, Gabriel bit his lip till he tasted blood, his full attention on perfecting his current spell.

  “Ah, the Dungeon Master is a mage,” the horrid figure cackled. “Yes, the mistress will be very pleased with us. You may devour the others as you wish, but do not kill the male.”

  The voice sent a shiver down his spine, but only hardened his resolve to win and protect his new bonded.

  This might not be the life I’d planned, but I will not let these necrotic assholes steal it away from me!

  He split his focus between weaving the strongest shield spell he could and monitoring the undead mage’s spellcasting. Upon casting his magic, a glowing barrier shimmered into reality around Cindra. At the same time, he recognized the undead mage’s spell.

  A large area shield? Guess he figures they can overwhelm us in melee.

  Not willing to waste any time, he wove the glyphs to form an Aetheric Lance, working in several layers of magic-piercing to test the ghast’s barrier. Combining spell effects on the fly was not something he’d practiced often. It took all of his concentration to make sure the spell didn’t unravel. Bit by bit, the discordant glyphs merged into a single spell circle, bright sigils emitting a harsh blue illumination on the vicious battle.

  Cindra whipped her greatsword with incredible grace, but still faced eight undead, including two of the far more dangerous ghasts, and was hard-pressed to avoid harm.

  One of the snarling ghasts lashed out, sharp talons causing her barrier to flicker and dim. Gabriel cursed his inability to measure the shield’s remaining strength. Cursing gave way to a startled gasped when the Interface interpreted that as an appeal for more info.

  A translucent green and black pane appeared before his eyes and reported the shield was still at fifty percent strength.

  That’ll be a useful feature. Assuming I survive this.

  Confident that his spell would protect her, at least long enough to finish another spell or two, he redoubled his effort to defeat the ghast’s defenses.

  It depleted his mana pool noticeably. Still, he’d held the spell together, and a grim smile spread across his face as he released the pulsating spell circle and watched it lash out.

  A violet javelin, the size of Cindra’s sword materialized in front of him. It crackled with reddish lightning and launched forward, slamming into the ghast’s domed shield.

  The missile shattered several of the hazy gray hexagons forming the formidable barrier and punched through. Just as Gabriel was preparing to cheer, one of the other ghasts jumped in front of the weakened lance.

  While not the target he’d wanted, the spell construct detonated upon striking the ghast. It unleashed all of its remaining fury into the vile undead. The stench of week-old fish mixed with sauteed maggots and rotten teeth filled the air as arcane energy flash-fried putrid flesh.

  “Most impressive, but ultimately futile. You will submit to the mistress,” the mage rasped, its voice growing more irritating with every word.

  Gabriel gasped for breath, swaying on his feet from the massive expenditure of mana and disappointment from the near miss.

  “Do not falter, Master,” Sthuza called out, her voice loud and confident, punctuated by an arrow darting through the still damaged barrier.

  Her shot struck the boastful undead in the shoulder. The missile drew disgusting coughing from the monster, which returned its attention to restoring the damaged spell.

  She said something else, but Gabriel couldn’t understand her, his attention drawn to a pair of ghasts that slipped past the vicious sword-swinging monster girl.

  One of them took an arrow to the head and performed an impromptu backflip, landing badly, and rolled on the ground. The other exited the dome, rushing at him.

  Busy fighting the urge to flee, Gabriel blindly grasped at the first spell to come into his mind. Glyphs he’d never seen before swirled around him in a rapid spiral, quickly shifting into a complex spell circle, and he stared at his now glowing hand.

  How did I cast that so fast?

  The sharp talons stretching toward him startled him from his stupor. He completed the spell, then watched in awe and horror as a purple-black cloud poured from his extended hand. The cloud split and thickened into tendrils of destruction that shredded the undead in a split second.

  The ghast wailed in agony, its rotting corpse exploding into puffs of thick red mist as the shadowy substance embraced it.

  A sharp inhale of breath from behind him switched Gabriel’s concern to Sthuza, but she shouted for him to direct his attack on the enemy mage.

  Looking at the amorphous cloud of death, he reached out mentally and commanded it to move.

  It flowed chaotically through the air, forming dozens of writhing purple-black tentacles that converged to strike a single shimmering gray hexagon.

  The ghast began muttering, desperate to reinforce his damaged barrier. His words quickly disappeared beneath the cacophony of the oily gas cloud as it battered the shield relentlessly.

  Gabriel watched unblinking until his knees struck painfully against the stone floor, and he realized he’d collapsed from exhaustion. Strong hands grasped his shoulders, and he leaned back against the comforting form of his Prime-bonded.

  She clung to him, the pair of them watching in fascinated dread at the panicked ghast’s impending death.

  The tile shattered, and a dozen shadowy ribbons darted through the opening, spearing into the undead monster’s body. The necrotic mage screamed, his raspy voice filled with terror and pain.

  Sthuza and Gabriel both flinched when purple-black flowers exploded out of the decomposing body in a twisted parody of springtime lilies. A thick spray of vile gore shot out, coating the inside of the glowing shield.

  With no host to anchor the spell, it unraveled, releasing its grotesque coating to splatter in a circle around the few remaining undead. Which Cindra promptly tore into with her adamantite sword, showing no regard for the charnel display.

  The final ghast looks terrified.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Reaching behind him to pull the shivering gorgon into his arms, Gabriel watched as Cindra systematically dismantled every enemy that still moved. Then she stood motionless like a gory statue. Surrounded by over a dozen dismembered corpses, sword tip resting on the ground, she turned to face him.

  “Thank you, Cindra—” he said, trailing off when the hulking monster girl collapsed in the center of the gory carnage.

  “Cindra!” he screamed hoarsely, his heart leaping into his throat.

  Sthuza’s firm grip held him in check when he tried to rise and go to her.

  “Calm yourself, Master,” she breathed, several head-snakes caressing his face tenderly when she pulled him close.

  “She is okay. It is her nature, n
ot their poison.”

  “What’re you talking about?”

  “Sorry, Master. I thought you were aware that she is something of a berserker. Hellhounds make ferocious warriors, but they are quite aggressive. And will push themselves hard to protect what they have claimed.”

  He stared blankly at his bonded.

  “So she can’t control herself in combat?” he asked, suddenly worried that taking the powerful hellhound in might not have been the best idea.

  Sthuza shook her head. “No, she is not a threat, if that is what you fear. Cindra is the type of warrior that commits every ounce of their body and will to offense.

  “Combined with the exhaustion she is still experiencing after your magical healing, it was too much for even her body,” the gorgon explained.

  “She will make an excellent fighter for now, but you will need to find a more skilled guardian to guard you and the rest of your bonded. I fear defense will never be her strong suit.”

  Gabriel nodded at her simple explanation. “Thanks, I didn’t want to regret bonding her, but the legends about berserkers aren’t flattering.”

  “Not to fear, Master. I will keep a careful watch on her training and ensure she fights with as much awareness as her small mind can manage,” Sthuza said, a grim smile on her face.

  Yeah, not sure I like how she phrased that.

  Still shaken after the close call and the sinister spell he’d used, Gabriel closed his eyes and lay back for a moment, letting his racing heart slow.

  “About that last spell you cast, Master.”

  He shivered, recalling the unsettling experience. “Yeah, it terrified me too.”

  Because he’d formed the spell so quick, he hadn’t noticed at the time. But as he thought back on it, he’d sensed an alien presence guiding him.

  “Please be careful before attempting to use that magic again. I did not recognize it, but there was a wrongness to it,” she said, leaning close against him.

  “You won’t get any arguments from me. The glyphs that formed it were hard to see, but I’m confident I didn’t know any of them a few days ago.”

  Exhaling forcefully, Gabriel stood and pulled the gorgon to her feet beside him.