Thankfully, Uden’s company of dwarves believe in patrolling as quietly as possible. We walked the edges of the cleared space around the tower for about two hours, and paying attention to our surroundings didn’t take much concentration. My new sight made the darkness of night seem like dusk, so I could spot anything out of the ordinary pretty easily. A dwarf’s vision was even better in low light, so I wasn’t worried we’d miss a thing.
The sounds of the night seemed loud in my ears at first. Feet pushing through the tall, stiff grass was a cacophony until I walked with more care and got used to the remaining sound. My thoughts turned to other things before long.
One of the biggest questions on my mind was what Kaiyuma would think of me using a mass of undead to attack Marat’s army at night. A few hundred undead couldn’t take out an entire army of ten thousand, even if most of them were asleep. The enemy would have watches too, and if they were organized at all, there would be signals and alarms that would get most of the soldiers up in a hurry. The truly professional mercenaries would be sleeping with their boots and trousers on. The rest of their gear would be near at hand, so they could wake and be ready to fight in well under a minute. I suspected that there were plenty of this kind of soldier in their ranks - hundreds at least - because Marat probably hired as many free companies who would follow him. A lot of them would have been impressed that he had a Traveller there to summon a portal directly to the encampment. That was rare and usually expensive.
The free companies, mostly made up of veterans from wars along the coastal states or further away, wouldn’t make up most of his armies though. They weren’t like the free companies of Brightwill, and nothing like the ones that had ships of their own. They were smaller, usually a hundred or so experienced fighters. These would be important, since many of them would be qualified enough to help with organization. The majority of Marat’s army was probably made up of people who had no better opportunities, small groups of or individual mercenaries, even a hundred or more adventurers, or followers of Olur. Most of these people would already be converted to the cause, sworn to the service of their new God because they were eager to raid, pillage and ruin everything to the north. There are a lot of people who crave the violent mayhem of combat in Nemori, and Olur is a great fit for these assholes.
So, would Kaiyuma approve of me using necromancy to kill these murderous reavers? I had the power to raise a relatively small group of zombie-like creatures using the bodies in the pits. That would be a minor offense, as far as I was concerned, and not much more than a fleeting distraction. I was pretty sure she’d let me get away with that as long as it didn’t lead to the repeated use of necromancy.
On the other hand, I could take out a massive chunk of Marat’s army if I could make the Creator’s Staff work with Thuriad’s Pride. The two together could raise every corpse for a couple miles in every direction. I would have an army that would last hours. Doing that would count as a major act of necromancy and it might do permanent damage to the Creator’s Staff.
There were other drawbacks to my plan. I would have to betray Dale, most likely. I would also be summoning an undead army that everyone would remember for a very long time. News would spread far and wide if I, the original Champion of Kaiyuma, raised an army of undead that included the remains of wildlife, sacrifices, even a dragon that was in a tomb on the far side of the eastern Twin mountain. That army would frighten the crap out of Marat’s forces. Thousands would break and run.
I still hadn’t made any decisions when Uden patted me on the back. “That’s all the patrolling we’ll do tonight.”
“We haven’t done a quarter of the night yet, have we?” I asked, surprised.
“A little more. I would have said something, but you’ve been pondering something. Working through the details of a plan?” he asked.
Uden was once a paladin, and he was looking to pick his shield up again, to fight for the cause once more. I knew he’d been through a great deal and would have wisdom to offer. This was no fresh-trained holy warrior who believed in the simplicity of good versus evil, but someone who learned about the grey area the hard way. “It’s complicated.”
“Ah,” he replied, looking into the woods for a moment as he stroked his hand through his beard. “How? What’s troubling you?”
I saw the pair of dwarves who were next in line to take our patrol a dozen or feet further down the treeline. They were wearing the new helmets and plate armour from the cache. One was even bearing a long bladed spear he’d gotten there. “The fastest solution to the army down south could be the most decisive.”
“But it’s not a plan that can suffer the light of revelation, aye?” Uden asked. “Otherwise you’d have been more specific.”
“You’re right. I don’t know if even Kaiyuma would approve,” I answered. “Between you and I, she did some desperate things when she was alive, some of them I’m sure she wouldn’t be proud of either, but what I’m considering could be…”
“...so bad that it might be a betrayal? So, Ilsa wouldn’t either and that priest would have his problems with it too, I’d imagine,” Uden nodded. “How many lives would you be saving if you pressed on with the plan?”
“Possibly everyone here and whoever lives between the south and Kaima,” I replied.
“I suppose you’d be the only one at risk?” Uden asked as if it was a practiced question.
“Yes, unless I screw up somehow and can’t pull it off at the last minute,” I replied, having that thought for the first time. What if I was too much of a magic newbie to channel magic from the Creator’s Staff into Thuriad’s Pride? What if I just burned myself out in the process? The dragons and any other creature who could sense powerful magic artefacts would sense the sceptre the moment I opened the box too. What if they tried to take it while I was using it? “I’m realizing that it’s possible.”
“Vunthanga was trying to do the right thing before he became a powerful necromancer and demon master. He saved his country only to become its ruler, using the forbidden magics to keep his throne for years,” Uden said in a quiet but unfearful whisper. “He intended to sacrifice himself when he raised his army and summoned his generals from the demon realm. His spirit was supposed to bind them to his cause after he spent his essence, but the demon host brought him back to life before the battle.”
“They made a pact with his spirit so they could remain in this world after the battle was won,” I finished for him, remembering the events of the Rift War only a century before. The northeastern tip of Brightwill was still a rolling, lifeless ruin thanks to the horrific battles that took place there during Vunthanga’s reign and his eventual defeat. “You’re not that Uden, are you?” I asked.
“No. I’ve never set foot on Brightwill. The wars I fought in were in the west of this land, against the hidden Dark Holds. You’ve probably never heard about them. The chronicles haven’t made it to this land or many others,” Uden said.
“The Goblin Lords and Rot Masters?” I asked quietly. “You fought against them?”
“You’ve heard of the cause in those lands?” Uden asked in a whisper, keeping his voice lower than before.
I knew of them in broad sweeps. There were small dwarven kingdoms out there, in a hilly region surrounding Malder’s Sword, a tall mountain that gleamed with quartz and other materials. The land beyond the foothills were dotted with lakes and marshes, making the space between them fertile. It had been populated on and off for ages, so there were hundreds of old places tucked under the hills and into the side of that giant mountain in the middle. War had been raging between dwarves, goblins, the orc like thurden, and other peoples for centuries. When the Rot Masters started gathering the enemies of the dwarves together several orders of paladins began sending forces there to help the dwarven kings. What followed was two wars, each of which were bloodbaths where the Rot Masters made sure that innocents were constantly caught in the middle. There were betrayals on every side as things became more desperate, and every victory the paladins had came with a devastating example of self-sacrifice. That’s what I knew, and the recollection came vaguely. Most of the names and specific events were murky, like I was trying to see something through fogged glasses. “I only know the broad arc of the history, but I’ve heard enough to know that every one of your victories came at a high cost.”
“Well, then you know that we sacrificed for the end of both of those wars,” Uden said. “Needlessly, some say. Our Lord Paladin, Ofden Xeman, brought the fury of our God down on Keril the Vile, the enemy’s most cunning general. That ended the second war, but if he trusted his paladins to get close enough, I know we could have taken that damned demon general prisoner. Had his head off as after-dinner entertainment. By bringing our God’s light into the world as a weapon he made a grand spectacle of burning that beast to dust from a hundred paces away while the battle raged, but our Lord Paladin burned himself out too. That was the end of the second war of my time, and the thing that brought my order’s end. I still shudder at how small Inrir must think we are, that one can be used as a channelling tool for his wrath even though it will destroy that person.”
“That’s why you broke from the faith,” I said, a little irritated that I couldn’t see the reason clearly before. There was something blocking my seer ability there, or some limit in place that I didn’t understand yet.
“Aye, and I still can’t give Inrir everything I am, that’s why I may pick up a shield and put his mark on it, but I’ll never have true faith again. Now, your Kaiyuma seems like the right sort. The more I hear Laylen tell her stories and see what kind of people she has following her, the more I want to put her mark on my shield instead. I was looking forward to settling down young - I’m only a hundred and twenty-five, you know - but I keep feeling drawn to a new cause. One where I protect people like Dale and Laylen by joining you and Ilsa. The pair of you are like a spark in the dark, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. Look around the camp in the morning and you’ll see a lot of dwarves with a tri-flower drawn on their shoulders, even their shields or helms using bits of chalk. I don’t know what this thing you’re planning to do is, but I suspect it has something to do with what’s in that case. It’s dark magic, aye?”
“Necromancy. I originally took it because I don’t trust anyone else to destroy it properly,” I revealed, aware that I was taking a big step with Uden. I was in dire need of advice, though, and he seemed like the only one who had the wisdom to give it.
Uden looked away from me into the thick woods. “You know how to use it?”
“That’s the problem, it’s too easy to use. Most people could,” I confided.
“Then it is as dangerous as you suspect. I always thought that necromancy is uncommon because it’s difficult, not because it’s almost always used for evil.” He thought for a moment, then sighed and regarded me with dire seriousness. “I can’t tell you not to use it. I saw the pits. I know our cause is near hopeless. You’re also answering the greatest of callings; to protect the innocent. I want to visit vengeance on all those whoresons gathered in the north, too, no doubt. If you told me you could raise an army of undead that’ll lay down as soon as the army we’re facing is broken, then I would be happy to know I wasn’t making the decision to use it or not. In your place, I might follow through with whatever dark plan you have. I know I might. Except for one thing,” he looked around for anyone who may over hear and gestured for me to lean in close.
I crouched down and nearly put my ear to his lips at his urging.
Then, in the lowest of whispers, he said; “If you raise an army of the dead and send it against Marat’s gathering of rejects, mercenaries and cultists, then you’re not serving Kaiyuma. You’re serving Olur.”
I flinched and stood, backing away, shocked all the way through because I realized I was right. What’s Olur the God of? War, domination, but above all he celebrates the violence and suffering that comes with those things. By sending an army of undead against the army that Marat gathered, I would be providing Olur with a magnificent spectacle. Thousands would die in his territory, meaning he’d probably have first crack at taking souls for his side. Even worse, the violence and death would empower him. “How did I miss that?”
“Add theology to a simple solution and everything gets complicated,” Uden sighed.
My dismay was softened by relief. The fastest way of breaking Marat’s army was no longer an option. On the other hand, I no longer had a reason to consider breaking trust with my friends - especially Dale - or to betray Kaiyuma. Those were the biggest reasons for my hesitation.
“There’s an expression one of my paladin brothers had. His name was Dunlid, and I loathed the nosy bugger, but damn me if he wasn’t right most of the time when he used to say; ‘any idea you hide is the first you should reveal.’ I believe there are exceptions for that, like Goler’s reliance on beard tonic to keep whiskers on his chin, but I’ve found Dunlid had a good point.”
“I was thinking about using the Creator’s Staff to empower Thuriad’s Pride so I could raise all the dead near the army camp instead of a few dozen, maybe a hundred,” I revealed in the quietest whisper he could hear.
It was his turn to flinch, and he let a nervous laugh slip before shaking his head and saying; “Curse me for saying, but I would have done it even though I bet I’d have to leave in shame after. My folk won’t follow you if you do it. I would, but the other former paladins with me wouldn’t.”
“You’d really do it?” I asked.
“Aye. There’s a reason why the living down here are a great concern for the Gods. Being alive here must be better or at least different from whatever it’s like after you’ve shit your last and gone on. At least, that’s what I believe. I’d use those things together to save the innocent people down here, damn the Gods. Save the innocent, no matter the cost.” He looked up, put one finger over his head, then another over his heart. “Just talking here.”
“The other way of winning this is going to be harder, more of us will die,” I said, still surprised that he admitted that he’d follow through with my darkest plan in my place.
“Well, then we should get started as soon as we can. I would do the dark deeds you were planning, but I want to be clear that I still don’t think you should. You’re Kaiyuma’s chosen one, and I don’t think it’s because you’re good with a sword.”
“I love her,” I said without restraint. Those words came easier than any other that night. “I want to be of service and would do anything to bring her here, and I love her people, too.”
“I wish I still had the kind of faith and dedication you do,” Uden said. “Maybe I could.”
I started thinking of the plans that I considered earlier that day, and a smirk started to spread across my lips. There was another, less offensive risky trick I could play, and Kaiyuma would definitely approve.
“What’s that? What’s that thought you’re having there?” Uden asked, perking up.
“Kaiyuma doesn’t have a problem with stealing from the overly-wealthy, and she raided plenty of temples during her time on Nemori. Most of them were dedicated to old dark gods. I happen to know of one that was turned into a tomb then forgotten. I think a few of us might hit it in the morning,” I whispered.
“Hit it? You mean, loot it?” he asked, tugging on the braid running through his beard. “Are there riches in the tomb?”
I nodded. “The High Priest who was sealed in there had a lot of fearful followers who were afraid that he’d return as a demon if they didn’t make one more tribute in gold and other important valuables. There are a couple guardians and a trap or two, but I know where they are. It should be empty, I can check before we go.”
“Why wait until morning? I’ll go with you, and I’m sure there are a few others,” Uden said. “How’d you find out about this place?”
“It’s from an old map,” I replied, still wary of telling him that I knew of hundreds of such places across the continent and beyond. “Get three of your people together in the early morning. A couple of my people will want to come, so that’ll make a good party.”
“Three dwarf paladins and any two of yours will make a powerful raiding team,” Uden said, his mood so bright that I wondered if he’d get any sleep that night.
My mood had improved as well. That tomb had a few things inside that the dragons might treasure, and there were a couple things for me, too. I finally went to the tower. I could hear Russ snoring from outside, and I overhead the dwarven guards at the door speaking to each other before they thought I was near enough to overhear. “He’s breaking boulders in his belly for sure,” said one with a snicker.
“A mighty roar is his snore,” the other agreed. “I wonder what a dwarf that size likes to breed with?”
“Goats, big ones!” They both had a quiet laugh at that. “Seriously, though, we’d do him and the Magols or the Bunders a favour if we introduced him to one of their giant daughters. Probably fetch a matchmaking fee.”
“Aye, and those stone breakers pay, I hear,” the other guard said right before he noticed me and straightened. “Lord Champion.”
When I got inside I saw that Dale and Rea were trying - and failing - to roll Russ onto his side. He didn’t notice the four hands pushing his shoulder at all even though they were straining with all their might. Dale stopped the moment he noticed me, but Rea didn’t care who was looking. I helped them and gently rolled him onto his side. He still didn’t notice, and the snoring stopped.
“It was just impossible to sleep,” Dale said.
“I know, I’ll come down and do it again if he wakes me up,” I said. “Good night.” I never told him how relieved I was that I didn’t have any other business with him that night. “We’re going on a treasure raid early in the morning.”
They both grinned at the idea. “I’ll cast a sleep spell on us so we rest through the night, then,” Dale said to Rea.
She seemed a little disappointed, but nodded.
Many of the people in our encampment were spread out in the first and second floors of the tower with a group left outside sleeping next to the walls with canvas hanging from the bricks for shelter. Ilsa was asleep in her roll, and I was about to fish for my tarp roll in my bag so I could sleep on the brick when she roused and pulled her covers aside. Our eyes met in the dark and she didn’t have to say anything. I left my boots and trousers on, but took my shirt and belts off like she’d done.
The bedroll was narrow, but I did my best to stay on one side until she turned her back to me and cuddled close. I put my arm around her and Ilsa nestled it between her breasts so she could tuck my closed hand under her chin. The sigh that followed was a contented one, and I relaxed. “This is all the comfort I need tonight.”
Her body felt good against mine, we fit each other well. Perhaps out of gratitude, or because of the simple pleasure of being comfortable with her, I squeezed her closer then relaxed. Before long I could hear her breathing become regular, then I was certain she was asleep when I heard her start snoring softly. I dozed off listening to that, but suffered a little shock of guilt when, almost completely asleep, I started daydreaming about Kaiyuma, hoping she’d visit my dreams.
I wondered if that situation was the one Kaiyuma wanted, and couldn’t guess what Uden would advise if he were in my position.