noveltune Chapter 16: The Baron’s Son
Chapter 16: The Baron’s Son
Chapter 16: The Baron’s Son
Chapter 16
Konstantin wore a grin as he continued. “The little boy got himself trapped on an island in the center of the chamber. There is a lake and island accessible by stepping stones. Some type of luminescent fish lights up the water, which lights up the chamber and water. The water is also home to giant aquatic centipedes. They can not reach more than five feet out of the water, according to the idiot on the island.”
Castille asked sternly, “So you talked with Justin Cicero? How is his health?”
Konstantin grinned, “He tried to order me to save him. He said he had a commander’s rank in the army and had the right to command me. He has been catching and cooking the glowing fish with his fire magic.”
Delmar asked, “How did he get trapped? What happened to his adventuring party?”
Konstantin frowned, “He lost one man to the spiders. It was his healing mage. A spider came from under the bridge and got him from behind. The water centipedes have a strong paralytic cloud attack. His two heavy fighters inhaled it, fell into the water, and drowned while they were crossing the stepping stones.”
Firth asked, “What happened to Marius, the pathfinder?”
Konstantin shook his head, “He did not say. But if the dungeon only allows seven people to enter and we number six, then it is safe to assume Marius is also dead.”
“What information do you have on the water creatures?” Castille asked.Vissit for updates
Konstantin grunted, “The glowing fish light chamber and water, like the fire beetles did in the prior chambers. The six centipedes are all about ten feet long and easily seen moving in the water. But instead of legs, they have one hundred fins. They are really fast, and that is why I think Justin’s team was surprised when crossing.”
Mage Castille frowned, “My shadow chains do not work underwater. Will they attack along the shoreline or just when crossing the stepping stones?”
Konstantin shook his head, “There is no shoreline. The chamber opens right to the stepping stones. The island in the middle has a shoreline— about thirty feet circular.”
“What is the likely hood of getting all of us to the island with the baron’s son?” Castille asked. Konstantin was shaking his head no.
Delmar suggested, “As long as we don’t breathe in the paralytic gas can we sprint to the island?”
“No,” Konstantin said. “The stepping stones are about five feet across, and it is about five feet between the stones. If you stop on the stones, then you will likely get quickly swarmed.”
I gasped and went down on one knee and tried to remove my boots, as I was now worried about frostbite. As I wrestled with the boots, the baron’s son came to us across the stones and reeked something fierce. “About time. Give me some food, and you can hand me my essences from those creatures, mage.”
I had only gotten one boot off so far but looked up to see the Mage Castille staring at the man who was in his twenties with weeks of haggard grow on his gaunt face. Delmar stepped between the mage and the baron’s son, “Over here, First Citizen Justin. We can get you some rations.” Delmar escorted Justin back up to the safe room before the confrontation with Mage Castille erupted into something.
Mage Castille stood over me as I rubbed my bare feet, trying to get the feeling back. I was still on the ice-covered second stepping stone. “Nice work Eryk.” She leaned down and placed three essences into my palm. “Three apex endurance affinities. All six were apex endurance essences. The baron’s son took the reward chest as it materialized on the island,” she said regrettably.
“He can just take the chest? He didn’t do a damn thing! What about his claim on the essences?” I asked, annoyed, starting to feel some life in my bare feet.
Castille pursed her lips, “He is a First Citizen.” My confused look had her add, “They fall under different laws.”
“As a mage, are you not a First Citizen as well?” I asked.
Castille harumphed, “No. You can only be born into first citizenship. You need to be a descendent of a member of the First Legion.”
I had more questions but did not want to show my ignorance, “So what is going to happen with Mr. Personality?” I asked Mage Castille. She huffed in a short laugh at my nickname.
“I will give him these three essences and tell him that was all we collected. He didn’t see me collect them all as he was too busy opening the chest on the island and securing whatever was in it. He will probably doubt me, so consume those quickly. You may get some indigestion as you are only supposed to take one essence a day, but if you don’t take them all now, that nitwit will confiscate them. Stay down here and take one every hour. I will see you in two hours.” Castille nodded at me, then she turned away and started walking back to the safe room.
Konstantin was the only one left at the passage heading up. He spoke, “Since the reward chest appeared in this room, there will be no other threats. When you feel up to it, walk down to the next chamber and take an accounting of it. If Justin asks, we will tell him we left you behind to scout. Do not enter the room, though, just note what you see from the passageway so you have something to tell Justin if he asks. The dungeon’s ecology will prevent the creatures from leaving their designated room.”
“Couldn’t we just kill the monsters from the passageway then?” I asked, trying to find a loophole.
Konstantin shook his head in disappointment, “I thought you were smarter than that, Eryk.” Instead of elaborating, he turned and left. I was left barefoot and alone on the floating stone with three essences in my hand.
I looked around and put the first essence into my mouth, thinking about what he meant. Then it struck me. The ankhegs were underground. The spiders were under the bridge. And the centipede fish were in the water and only came close after I leaped onto the first stone. All of the monsters had only attacked after we entered the room. I surmised dungeons protected their creations from making killing them too easy.
I confirmed I was alone. I sent my wet, cold socks to my dimensional storage and brought out dry socks. I put on the icy, frost-covered boots. I had a lot of time, so I decided to check out the island in the center of the chamber. I hopped to it and almost collapsed every time I landed. My knee was in serious pain, and I think I cracked the patella. On the island, I found the mess the baron’s son left—piles of shit, fish bones, dirty clothes. The smell was horrendous. I looked at the far side of the cavern. I still had a lot of time before I needed to return to the safe room. I knew curiosity killed the cat, but it couldn’t hurt to take a peak. As Konstantin said, I just needed to remain in the passageway.