Sentenced to Troll 4 Page 3

  The clank of metal cuts through the silence as two imperial guards, one a black-maned lion and the other a golden-skinned rhinoceros, step out from the back of the crowd. Their hands grip the gladius strapped to their waists as they walk with purpose.

  “There’s no need for that,” a sultry voice speaks up from the back.

  Several beastkin step out of the way, revealing a tiger beastkin sprawled on a daybed draped with furs. Two servants fan the tiger with massive leaves, and another holds a platter of grapes. In spite of the severity of our situation, I suppress a grin when I realize that all of the servants are mice beastkin.

  I focus on the tiger.

  Festa Forgetooth

  Emperor of Goldspire.

  Level: ???

  Rogue

  Beastkin

  I don’t know why, but I wasn’t expecting the emperor to be a woman. But even more interesting is the fact that she has a class. A rogue emperor. Neither King Orso nor King Favian had a class listed when I focused on their stats. Was it because they chose to conceal it?

  Festa doesn’t move from her position as she lifts a paw, stopping the guards in their tracks. Her fur is a deep black, with orange stripes that match her fiery eyes. She wears a single golden necklace, and a golden laurel crown that glitters even against the night sky.

  She extends a claw, pointing it in our direction. “It’s not often we get outsiders in Goldspire. Even rarer that outsiders would be of such a low level.” She pauses, and it feels as though she is looking into my very being. “But most strange is not the fact that they have a key to my private estate, but that two of them are heroes.”

  Gasps travel through the group, followed by hushed whispers.

  “Heroes—”

  “Is it true?”

  “It’s been ages. What could heroes be doing in Goldspire?”

  The emperor raises her paw, and we stand in silence once more. “Leave us be.”

  There are more whispers as guests begin moving inside. The band exits the stage, taking their instruments with them.

  The black-maned guard turns toward the emperor. “Your Majesty, it is unwise—”

  “Choose your next words carefully, Cinnius,” she cuts him off. “Do I not command the wisdom to lead Goldspire?”

  The lion bows. “You do, Your Majesty.”

  “And have you met anyone who could best your emperor in combat, armed or otherwise?”

  “I have not, Your Majesty.”

  “Then you would do well to remember your place and leave the decision-making to me. Now, inside with the others, for I do not fear two heroes and an imp, curious as they may be.”

  The lion nods. He takes one last glance at us over his shoulder before following the trail of whispers into the villa.

  The emperor sits up on the daybed, waving away her servants except for the two fanning her.

  “Come, I wish to look upon your faces.”

  Taryn removes his hood, and Limery burns uncomfortably hot against my shoulder as I remove the shawl.

  “You have nothing to fear, little one. At least not yet.” She flashes us a dangerous smile, her fangs a brilliant white against her obsidian fur.

  We approach with caution. I keep mana at my fingertips, ready to summon a horror at a moment’s notice. Not that it would do me any good. I could use Champion to summon Dakota, the minotaur gladiator we defeated in the arena. Perhaps he could buy us time to escape.

  “Have a seat.” She motions toward a second daybed nearby. “I have a feeling this story is going to take a while.”

  We do as she says, and once again, we find ourselves sitting in silence.

  The emperor lets out a sigh. “Is my presence that all-consuming or are the lot of you mutes?”

  Limery is the first to speak. “Chods saids Limmy should be quiet when we comes to the emperor’s house. He saids we don’t want to get caughts.” The words spew out like a waterfall.

  A grin forms at the edge of her mouth. “Is that so? I take it you are Limmy. Now which one of you would be Chod?”

  I raise a hand. “That would be me. I am Chod, hero of the forest trolls of the Isle of Mythos.”

  The emperor can see our levels and the wanted marks placed on us by Cornix, but she must not be able to see our names unless we are identified. Or is she toying with us?

  “A blue forest troll, that’s a first. And who would that make you, Mr. Dwarf?”

  Taryn proudly puffs out his chest. “I am Taryn, hero of the dwarves of Seascape.”

  Gentle music resumes inside the villa. Festa glances over her shoulder and her eyes narrow slightly.

  “Never mind them.” She places her paws on the daybed as she leans forward, and several ebony claws protract with the movement. Claws that could rip us to shreds. “Now, tell me…” Her voice has a gentle purr to it as she speaks. “How did you get this key, and what are two under-leveled heroes doing in my city?”

  For less than a second, Festa’s orange stripes turn black, her entire being a shroud of darkness. A cold breeze passes over me, sending a chill down my spine, and the next thing I know, Festa is holding the imperial key. She moved so fast that I didn’t even feel her take it from my hand. I get the feeling that that ability is only a glimpse into what she is capable of.

  Her eyes linger on Limery.

  The small imp squirms next to me. “We stole its.”

  Sometimes I wish I could tape his demonic little mouth shut.

  He scoots closer to me, as if I can shield him from her impenetrable gaze. Little does he know of my own inner turmoil. Because if this goes south, I’m not going to be able to protect anyone.

  “Curious. You know, Cornix is renowned for—”

  I interrupt her before she decides on a punishment to fit the crime. “We had no choice. King Orso asked us to deliver a message. You haven’t been at the imperial palace since we arrived in Goldspire, and we didn’t know when you would return. We were tipped off that you would be at the villa, and that your Hand had a key to all imperial estates. We didn’t mean any harm, but we did what we had to do.”

  Her eyes turn to slits, and for a moment, my body tenses and I worry she is about to pounce. “Interrupt me again, and you will regret the day you ever set foot in Goldspire, hero or not.” She sighs. “As flippant as you may seem to the hierarchy and rules of my empire, I am not without understanding. Like all Goldspirians, I too was raised on the legends of the Age of Heroes. I find it strange that only the Isle of Mythos has heroes, but more may reveal themselves in time. If you are here, it is because a change is coming. Now, tell me, what is the message from your king?”

  Taryn gulps before speaking. He tells the emperor of the portals, of the king’s fears, his council with the other leaders, and the behemoth that came through Seascape’s portal. When he finishes, I receive a quest notification.

  Quest Alert. You have completed the quest “First Contact: Goldspire.” You have traveled into the lands of Goldspire and delivered King Orso Brightgaze’s message to its leader.

  Reward: Increased favor with Seascape, potential allies in Goldspire.

  The quest notification must boost Taryn’s confidence, because he continues, “So, will you join us when the time comes?”

  “I think not,” she says matter-of-factly, as if the rise of the dark wizard is nothing more than a passing problem that can be shrugged off.

  “B-but—” Taryn’s eyes are wide. “—are you not worried about the dark wizard, about the safety of your people?”

  A cool breeze washes over us once again, and Limery grows hot against my side. Festa returns to a shadow once more, and all around us, the torch lights go out one by one until only the soft purple glow of the pool and the moon overhead give us light.

  When she speaks, even my night vision can’t see the features of her face. “I do not fault a king who has only just gained access to the portals for being afraid, but Goldspire has nothing to fear. We have fought off invaders time and time again. The gladiators you faced in the arena were merely a test. A test to determine if you were worthy to even walk our streets. When our best enter the arena, we leave no opponent standing.”

  She may talk a big talk, but our fight with the warlock outside of Lynchton is proof enough that something bigger is at play. Something we all need to prepare for.

  In the darkness, the shrouded emperor exudes power, but Taryn didn’t get this far by cowering away. “Valmar Worren conquered the lands of Mythos once before. Who is to say he can’t do it again?”

  She scoffs. “Is that name supposed to frighten me? Do you know the history of Mythos, the history of Goldspire? I battled Valmar on the sands of the arena when he thought my empire would be a worthy addition to his cause. He left the same way he entered: a would-be conqueror. Goldspire has never been conquered, and it never will be.”

  “You fought the dark wizard?” I stumble to my feet at the knowledge. This is a game-changer! Someone who actually knows how the dark wizard operates. “Then you can help us with the knowledge to defeat him. Not many were alive at that—”

  “I have heard enough. Tell your king that I wish him well, but Goldspire will stand as it always has—alone. He is welcome to come and plead his case himself if it suits him, but my decision is firm.”

  “Festa, please,” I plead.

  I know my mistake instantly. Her shroud fades and the orange stripes along her body blaze with energy. She’s in front of me in an instant, her long, lithe legs making her nearly as tall as me.

  Her whiskers brush against my cheek as she whispers in my ear. “Leave now, and I will forgive this insolence. You delivered your message. You have your response. I do not advise you to test my patience.”

  I want to stay, to try one last time to win her over, but
Taryn tugs at my arm, telling me it’s time to go. We completed the quest, but we failed in the end. Goldspire will not be joining our cause.

  4

  Pour Me Another

  The only good that came out of that meeting is that our wanted marks are gone. As we walk in silence from the villa to the inn, I’m sure we’re all feeling the same thing.

  Failure.

  “I just don’t get it.” Taryn’s voice is strained. “She’s fought Valmar before. Not only that, they were able to keep him from marching on Goldspire. How can she just keep that information to herself? What if he’s more powerful this time?”

  I place my hand on his shoulder, offering what little comfort I can. “I know, buddy. We tried and we failed. Now, we have no choice but to move on.”

  “Yeah.” Limery hops from my shoulder to Taryn’s and pats him on the head. “It’s like Chods says. It’s ain’t overs til it’s overs.”

  He gives us a half-smile. “So what now?”

  “Now, we continue on. We level up, and we get stronger. We explore new cities and keep trying to win people to the cause. With so many portals open, it will be a lot harder to find other heroes, but that doesn’t mean we can stop trying. Who knows what else is waiting for us out there?”

  He nods. “You’re right. Only a handful of leaders came to the king’s council. Our work is far from over, but I can’t help but feel like we are leaving a lot on the table here. I mean, if Dakota and the others aren’t even their strongest fighters, can you imagine what having them on our side would mean?”

  “I do. But who knows what the future holds? For now, I say we’re lucky we get to live to fight another day.”

  Taryn looks over his shoulder in the direction of the villa and shakes his head. “Ain’t that the truth.”

  We spend the next while speculating on the emperor’s power. The way she moved was like nothing I’ve ever seen.

  The streets are much quieter on our return. By the time we reach the forum, only stragglers remain. A handful of imperial guards patrol the area, but we walk with our faces revealed, no longer having to worry about being arrested.

  True to her word, the fox beastkin is still tending bar when we arrive at the inn. The lioness and minotaura continue their game of marbles, but the rest of the guests have cleared out.

  “You boys look like you could use a drink.” She gestures at three barstools in front of her.

  “You have no idea.” Taryn plops down on the stool. “I don’t care what it is but make it strong.”

  I analyze the bartender a little more closely this time.

  Portia Swiftwill

  Level: 22

  Beastkin

  Limery stands on his stool and leans against the bar. Portia takes three glasses from the overhead rack and places them on the bar, filling them with a golden wine.

  She slides the glasses in front of us. “I know a rough day when I see it. Here, these are on the house.”

  “Thanks.” I tilt my glass to her before taking a swig.

  The wine is cool and refreshing. It’s crisp as it goes down, dry and minerally, like licking a wet stone, but the aroma is floral and vibrant.

  Limery cups the wine glass in both hands and guzzles it, wine streaking down his chin. “Yums.”

  Taryn downs his and asks for another. “What can I say? Goldspire knows how to make a fine drink.”

  “That we do.” She winks, her green eyes mesmerizing against her orange fur. “So, tell me, what has a group of travelers like yourselves in such a fuss?”

  Taryn takes a chug of his new drink, then sighs. “We were on a quest for the King of Seascape. We failed.”

  She reaches out and taps Taryn on the hand. “That’s unfortunate. Still, it must be pretty exciting to live the life of a hero.”

  Limery sways back and forth, the wine already hitting him. “They’s the bestest heroes.”

  “Have a seat before you fall on the floor.” I laugh as I help Limery sit on the stool before turning to Portia. “Do you have anything he’s less likely to spill?”

  She hands me a regular glass, and I pour the wine into it. Sometimes, having Limery around is like babysitting a toddler. If that toddler could burn you alive without so much as straining a muscle.

  I take a seat between Limery and Taryn, finishing off my first glass. My head begins to buzz at the edges, and I suddenly feel much more talkative. “Being a hero is exciting. There’s always something to do and someone to save, but there’s a lot of pressure that comes with the territory. People look to us for answers, and we don’t always have them. There’s a lot more to being a hero than just adventuring.”

  Taryn gently pounds his fist against the bar. “That’s the truth of it. And now that the portals are open, there’s more to do than ever.”

  “What do you mean?” Portia leans forward, her green eyes vibrant with interest.

  Taryn’s eyes meet mine for a moment, and I can tell he’s wondering the same thing I am. How much should we tell her?

  I nod to him to go on. If we can’t sway the emperor, we can at least spread word among the people of what we’re dealing with.

  “A war is coming…” he begins, recounting everything that has happened since the portal opened.

  By the time he finishes, not only is Portia leaning against the edge of the bar, but the lioness and minotaura have quit playing their game. They both are turned toward us, enthralled like children at story time.

  For the longest time, the only sounds in the inn are Limery’s slurps as he drinks his wine.

  “You are certain he has returned?” Portia’s face is set in stone.

  I shrug. “Nothing is certain, but everything points in that direction. The portals flaring to life on the Isle of Mythos, the only place where heroes have appeared. The warlock and his beings from the shadowlands. The behemoth. Something is definitely up.”

  She bites her lip and exchanges looks with the other two beastkin. “The emperor’s battle with Valmar is one of the most famous tales in Goldspire. I was not yet born at the time, but we beastkin live long lives and there are many who can still vouch for its accuracy. It is said that the battle shook the heavens. That it was the only time in Goldspire’s history where it was feared the city might fall.”

  “Tell us about it.” Taryn slides his glass forward for another refill.

  She shakes her head as she empties a bottle of wine into Taryn’s glass. “I fear I do not have the skill to do it justice. We have talked enough of dark matters for one night. What is next for you three?”

  I finish off my own glass and the room starts to spin. “Somewhere far from here. We’re not sure where, though. What do you know of the other portals?”

  “Me? Not much. There’s plenty of adventure in and around Goldspire for me. You know, there are ancient dungeons of great power outside the city walls. I’m sure they are a worthy challenge for heroes.”

  Taryn laughs. “That might be too worthy of a challenge. Goldspire is beautiful and full of adventure, but for now, we should set our sights on greener pastures.”

  “It is rare for beastkin to leave Goldspire. We take pride in our lands and our culture. But there are those, scholars mostly, who have explored distant lands for first-hand knowledge of other cultures. I know one who may help guide you on your adventures.”

  Limery’s eyes grow heavy, and he slumps over. I catch him and his glass just before they tumble to the floor.

  “I think it is bedtime for this one. When can we meet your friend?”

  She takes our empty glasses and sets them aside. “Take the day to explore some of the beauty Goldspire has to offer. At sundown, meet me by the spire, and I will introduce you.”

  I pay our tab, and we head to our room. Looks like we’ll be in town for at least one more day.

  5

  The Price of Freedom