Ruinous Return

Bolvon sat up as his name was called. He rolled out of his bed and threw on his leather armor, fastened his knife-belt and bandolier with throwing daggers, darts, and an unstrung shortbow with a quiver to his belt and back. He opened the door to his chambers, and the Spymaster Velenna was standing in front of it. He bowed to the shorter woman, "Yes?"

"Lady Rivers demands the death of Poweno of the Conclave of the Fortress."

Finally! A chance to prove my devotion. Bolvon nodded his head, "Where is he?"

"He's leaving Lynhold. Her Bodyguards are trailing him. Not more than a minute ago."

Bolvon nodded and ran down the hall as the Spymaster stepped aside. "En ethiel an le / thalion min / an dautho nin ennas." He incanted the spell and felt his mana surge into his body, increasing his muscle density and pushing himself to greater speed. Half of my mana left, he thought. "En ethiel an le / thalion min / leithio nin padad / sui gwathren." His body blurred and was cloaked in darkness as he gained even more speed.

He dashed through the dread fortress, passing by the two Bodyguards without them even noticing his passage – squeezing by them as he blended into the darkness like a wraith. He caught up with Poweno with ease, but the old warrior must have sensed something was off, as he wheeled to the side and swung a wild haymaker. Bolvon dropped his spell and stabbed forward with his dagger, piercing the man's jugular.

The older warrior collapsed, dead, on the floor. Mission accomplished.

The Bodyguards ran up behind him, "How'd you pass us?" Gael asked.

Bolvon laughed as he turned to face his friend, "What's the matter? Didn't see me Gael?"

Gael shook his head and grinned, "As always, hiding and slinking around in the darkness."

Bolvon shrugged and held his hands out to the side, the dagger in his right-hand dripping ichor still. "What can I say? Not every Duskari is made for the frontlines." He grinned and switched to a taunting voice, "Just like not every Duskari is made for the Destroyer's bed."

Gael let out a barking laugh, and Vael walked past the two as she grabbed Poweno's body. "Dead," she stated, dragging the body behind her. "Good kill."

"Ah, Vael. Always the serious one. Always focusing on the objective," Bolvon said with mirth.

"I'm glad that Lady Rivers found a good use for your talents," she stated courteously.

Bolvon nodded, "So am I. I live to serve our goddess." Plus, he thought, she only wanted one Assassin. That means I can really carve out a name for myself. He had been mulling over an idea, and turned on his heel to report his success.

Lyn heard a knock on her door. Opening it, she saw a Duskari who looked to be about the same age as Gael and Vael, with deep, purple-black hair, and piercing, almost black eyes with just a hint of red. He was covered with daggers, knives, throwing darts, and was dressed in dark blue leathers. "My Lady. Poweno is no more."

Lyn nodded and opened the door as Vael and Gael ran down the hall, coming to attention. "You must be Bolvon."

"Yes, oh goddess of destruction."

Lyn smirked, and looked past him to Vael who was stone-faced, and Gael, who was holding back some emotion. "Do you two know Bolvon?"

Gael nodded, "Yes, Lady Rivers. We grew up together."

Lyn looked at Bolvon and gestured with a hand in his line of sight so he knew he could stand. "Did you sleep together as well?" Gael nodded once more, Vael shook her head, and Bolvon nodded. Good. I can use that connection to ensure loyalty. But…he already seems quite loyal. "Bolvon, why don't you and Gael come inside. Vael, keep watch."

The two men entered, and Lyn shut the door to her chambers. "Forgive me, my Lady," Bolvon muttered. "Did I disappoint you?"

"No. I want to reward you for your rapid execution of a task."

Bolvon knelt, "Serving my goddess is reward enough."

Lyn tutted, "Tsk. Please. Ask for something."

"I…My Lady, I would like to have my title changed. Assassin is…generic."

"Did you have any ideas?"

Bolvon looked up at her and grinned. He had quite a dashing smile. "Yes, my Lady. I would like my title to be simply Shadowstalker."

Lyn nodded, "Very well. I will notify Velenna of the change." She looked at Gael, "Am I correct in stating that you have feelings for my Shadowstalker here?"

Gael blushed heavily and nodded curtly, "Yes, my Lady."

Lyn looked to Bolvon, "Well, you heard the man. If you desire, I'll give Gael the day off."

Bolvon stood up, grabbed Gael by the arm, and dragged him – willingly – out of her chambers. Vael peeked around the corner and raised an eyebrow at Lyn. She just chuckled in response before shutting the doors.

James sat on the throne. It was a comfortable seat, made of white marble with a sumptuous cushion. He had been on that seat for only a few days, and yet it felt like he had been there for decades. The tedium of ruling was something he had not anticipated having to ever deal with in his lifetime. And yet, here he was, ruling Khrelardia, one of the 'big three' kingdoms on Ghomar.

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King Kristoph's house guard were sent to border outposts along the sea. The former monarch had no family, no heirs, and when James revealed the attempt on his life – a revolution began and ended within a single hour. The King was handed over to his subjects, and they executed him. James only stuck around to see the body begin to swing, before he left – disgusted at the man's actions. He wanted to kill you because you were a threat. That…and he was trying to use James' life to negotiate an alliance with Cecily in Valagonia. That bitch. She just had to ruin everything I've tried to build.

James wanted to retire. Just be High-Lord of Khrelardia's forces. Train the next generation to keep the kingdom prosperous and secure. Enjoy his family. But, once Kristoph hung to death, the people demanded the Paragon hero take the throne.

What choice did he have? Even his Paragon core whispered to him. The voice of Aelor, the remnants of the creator deity, uttering assurances that his justice was righteous, that he would rule with grace and majesty. That he would stand up to Valagonia's horrific treatment of non-Human races.

But James did not want war. And thus, the current situation. Cecily's emissaries and a small guard were standing in his throne room. James had Aelor'An'Alar across his waist, the blade ready for use if necessary…and it spoke volumes to those messengers. Fuck with me, and I will end you.

The leader, a swarthy, wide man, bowed deeply, "High-Lord-"

James pointed his hand at the crown upon his brow, "King. Kristoph has been deposed. Address me properly or I'll have you thrown out." I don't want to throw you out…but I can't show weakness to Cecily.

The man stood up and nodded, "Of course, your highness. I was here to see if King, ahem, the former monarch of Khrelardia had contemplated the offer of Cecily Valagonia, first of her name."

"I saw the offer. My head in exchange for a political alliance in the form of marriage. Which would then lead to genocide of the non-Human races within my kingdom. You return to Cecily and tell her that the offer is rejected. Furthermore, give her this letter," he gestured, and his seneschal brought a letter – written in English, which for some reason no one on Ghomar could read except for the heroes, despite several attempts to learn the language by renowned scholars. Something about the summoning, I'm sure.

He cleared his throat as the messenger took the letter. "Within contains my demands. I will keep my forces on the Western side of the Azure Divide, and hers to the East. What she does to petty kingdoms and counties within her domain is her business. But if her forces are found in Khrelardian lands and vassal states…then she will have brought war upon herself."

The Azure Divide was a large river that ran from the mountains surrounding the Valley of the Volcano, all the way to the southern edge of the continent. Both large kingdoms had vassals within the region, but that river would serve well as a nature mark to end kingdom borders. The messenger bowed, "I will relay this to her highness immediately." He turned and left with his small guard of troops.

James sheathed his blade and sighed. Looking to his Seneschal, he waved the man over. "Have my wife and children been relocated to the royal apartments yet?"

"They have, my Lord."

James nodded and stood, "Have the council convene in three hours time, post-supper." He walked off towards the wing of the palace that led to his quarters. The stark stone was a drastic difference from the warm wooden building he had called home since defeating the Demonic Dragon…taking credit for the kill. His wife was the one constant.

"Hi honey!" Maria said as she kissed his cheek. "We've just finished moving-"

James was tackled backward and let himself fall as Tevol and Tovol leaped onto him. "Daddy!" they both shouted as the play-wrestled with the Paragon hero. James laughed and hefted the two up, easily lifting them both as they clung onto his biceps. "Dad! We got new rooms!" Tevol yelled.

"And new beds!" Tovol followed up.

Maria laughed and James smiled. I'd do anything to keep this.

His Paragon core, the lingering, whispering voice of the creator deity, resonated with that thought.

Morning came and Lyn left the fortress. The town was developing rapidly, and she utilized several earth spells to create a large tunnel network under the growing city that could be fitted with pipes to create both a water-delivery and sewer system. Coming from a basic education in even the piss-poor public school system, she knew enough from history that diseases were just as bad of a killer as anything else in a medieval-level technology society. Knowing that, she ensured that one tunnel led deep under Shiverburn Summit, using her lava spells to locate a quiet magma tube that would not erupt. Easy disposal of waste, she thought. Much better than a cistern. And deep enough that she would not have to worry about any scents going up to the city.

Gael and Vael were next to her as she went about these tasks, and several hours passed before she finished her task. Now, let's see how far these dungeons are. She channeled mana into the bracer and saw a three-dimensional representation of the Valley of the Volcano, zoomed in on her location. She was able to focus her gaze and move the image. Only a couple hundred feet away? She used the same tunnel-creation earth spell, with a slight revision to the verses to have the tunnel not just persist behind her but turn to stone to maintain its shape.

They emerged in a chamber. A natural cistern, with a pool of water that had dripped down through a long, narrow series of cracks in the ceiling above. In the center of the pool stood a doorway made of stone encrusted with coral. "This door marks the dungeon of Tenurel, Tide-Tender. Threats within – monster, puzzle, riddle. Reward – dungeon core and body enhancing items."

"Do you want us to come along?" Vael asked.

Lyn shook her head and drew Cataclysm, willing her armor to cover her whole body. "No, you two stay here and keep watch."

Gael sighed and leaned against the stone tunnel they had come from, "Quite boring."

Lyn shot him a glance, "The last time you two went into a dungeon with me, you both were heavily injured. You would have died if not for me." She felt a pang of fear course through her. I can't lose them. And that thought struck a chord within her. She didn't want to see them die like she had seen her former classmates did in dungeons. That was one of the reasons why Lyn did so many dungeons on her own – everyone else was scared off. Well, almost everyone. Eight of them weren't.

Vael shook her head, "Sorry, Lyn. We're your bodyguards. We go where you go."

"I can't risk you dying," Lyn muttered as she turned to the woman. "I can't lose friends like that again."

Gael glanced at Vael and smiled, "See? She does think of us as friends and not just as bed fellows."

The Destroyer core within Lyn bubbled and roiled in a…protective way. That's weird, Lyn thought at first. But it…made sense. Raevan was called the Destroyer because of her role compared to Aelor, but she saved the Ari. This power of a goddess of destruction wants to protect these people. The core simmered in response, as if confirming her thoughts. "I want you two to grow stronger," she whispered towards the twins. "But I can't have you dying on me."

In her memories, she could recall the times she had ventured into a dungeon with other heroes only to see them die before her very eyes. And she knew that if she saw that happen again it would bring her back to that moment. That type of hesitation in the middle of a dungeon could spell her own death.

"Then we'll stay back," Gael stated as he put his spear and shield onto his back and pulled out an odd contraption. Some type of bracer that he fit together that formed some type of arm-length slingshot. He fit the device around his wrist, attached two arms of a crossbow, and strung a bowstring. Vael did the same, retrieving a similar device. "We have ranged options aside from our spells."

Lyn nodded, "Good. You two stay out of danger." She turned to face the shimmering purple doorway and took a deep breath. "Let's go. I have more power to obtain."