chapter 3

A Chapter by cody

Chapter 3--Dunmore

“Lord Seryth.” A guard said.

“What is it?” Seryth asked.

“A harpy wishes to speak to you.” The guard said.

“A harpy, Let her in.” Seryth said.

“As you wish.” The guard said as he leaves the room. Moments later the guard escorts the harpy in.

“Seryth the rogue, I come here to invite you to the harpies’ tournament.” The harpy said.

“Harpies tournament?” Seryth asked.

“It is a tournament of 300 rogues--like you--competing to join the ranks of the harpy assassins.”

“I will have to talk to my brother.” Seryth said as Blanc enters the throne room.

“You should go Seryth.” Blanc said.

“But, with Zander gone it will be only you here.” Seryth said.

“Don’t worry about me I can take care of the city myself for a while.” Blanc encouraged.

“Alright I’ll go.” Seryth said. Seryth follows the harpy out of the Throne Room to the stable.

“What is your name?” Seryth asked as they trot from the main gate.

“Teresa.” The harpy replied.

“Teresa?” Seryth asked.

“Yes?” Teresa asked.

“Where is the tournament?” Seryth asked.

“Dunmore. It’s a cavern that is three days south of here.” Teresa said.

“Dunmore? I’ve heard that name before.” Seryth said.

“Myth of Loki’s sanctuary?” Teresa asked.

“That’s right. Loki’s Sanctuary, five levels below Dunmore. Are there five levels of Dunmore?” Seryth asked.

“There is, but I don’t know of Loki’s Sanctuary.” Teresa said.

“How do you not know?” Seryth asked.

“Dunmore only has five levels. First level is where the tournament is. The winners go to the second level, Thieves Hall, which is where you will become a thief and perform work as a thief. Once promoted you will venture to the Rouges Den. This is normally the last stop for outsiders such as you, because only twenty of the thieves are allow entry, mostly harpies. But, if you so happen get to this level and make it to the fourth level, Assassins Lair, then you will be able to work as an assassin and will be one of the best.” Teresa explained.

“What about the fifth level?” Seryth asked. Teresa began to laugh.

“Death.” Teresa said.

“Death?” Seryth asked.

“Death is a rank that four assassins are promoted to. I have only heard rumors of Death.” Teresa said.

“What does Death do?” Seryth asked.

“Just as their names implies, it is said that they can hear Loki’s commands and they are the ones that give the Thieves and assassins their jobs.” Teresa explained. Three days later, Teresa and Seryth finally made it to Dunmore.

“Here we are.” Teresa said as they came up to a hole in the side of the mountain. “We have to leave our mounts out here.” Teresa said. Seryth dismounted as did Teresa, and they ventured into the cavern, Dunmore. The entrance is a wide passageway with stalagmites hanging from the ceiling. The cavern floor descends thirty feet across half a mile, where two harpy guards stood before them.

“Halt. Who are you?” One harpy asked.

“I am Seryth the rogue, Lord of Ragnarok.” Seryth said.

“Oh yes, I remember now, Teresa was sent to retrieve you. Follow me.” The guard said. She escorts Seryth and Teresa down the passageway to another one that is on the right.

“Continue down and you will find the other contestants.” The guard explains. Seryth and Teresa continued for another two-hundred feet where they entered a large room where the other contestants awaited. The contestants were of all different races.

“Now that the last contestants are here we may begin.” The arena master said.

“All of you will be split into three different groups where you will be escorted to your respective barracks; there you will be paired off with your opponent. The winners will continue to the Thieves Hall.” The arena master explained. Three guards entered and began splitting the contestants into three groups. A different guard took Seryth than Teresa. Once the combatants are in their groups, their respective guard escorts them to the arena floor where three rooms stood: one to the south, straight ahead, one to the east, to the left, and the last one to the west, to the right. The guards escorted Teresa to the eastern barracks and Seryth to the southern barracks.

As Seryth enters the barrack, four other guards awaited the combatants.

“We shall begin pairing you off.” Says the guard that escorted the combatants to the barrack. The guards made their way from the front pulling the combatants by their shoulder pairing them off. Five minutes later the guards finished pairing the combatants together.

“The first fight from this barrack will begin when the last fight from the eastern barrack finishes. In the meantime, you can do whatever you want just as long there is no fighting, save it for the arena.” The guard said. Moments later the arena master came in.

“Combatants, I have an announcement to make. The eastern barracks is just about to begin their first match. Once their last match is done, you will begin your fights. You will have roughly three hours to prepare yourselves.” The arena master announces, and leaves to the western barrack. The first match from the eastern barrack was quick, one combatant, a harpy, charged at her opponent an elf, slashing at his throat. The elf tried to defend the attack, but was too late--the harpy’s claw hit its mark. The elf grasps at his neck, as his hands are quickly drenched in blood. The eastern barrack’s fights went on the same as the first, because most of the matches were a harpy verses a different race. Teresa is the last combatant to come out whom she faces another harpy, Sephiroth. Sephiroth is a dark skinned harpy with wings as black as coal and eyes as red as human blood. Sephiroth wields a single black-diamond kris whereas Teresa wields a dual-bladed mithrodin made of white-diamond blades and a black-diamond handle. Sephiroth stood by the eastern barrack’s gate as Teresa made her way out holding her mithrodin. The arena master stands up.

“The last fight from the eastern barrack two harpies are about to battle each other. The land scape shall change for these combatants.” The arena master said. The ground starts to shake as a maze of rock raised from the ground its sides stretched to the ceiling of the cavern.

“This will test how stealthy the harpies are, Fight!” The arena master announces. Teresa advanced cautiously through the maze with her mithrodin ready. She positioned herself against the side of the labyrinth as she peers around a corner to find it clear. She proceeds forward with caution. At the next intersection, she hears faint footsteps coming closer to her. Out of the corner of her eye, she spots Sephiroth just in time to dodge a jab from Sephiroth’s kris. Teresa rolls to her feet as she separates her mithrodin into two single mithrodins. Sephiroth performs an overhead strike, Teresa blocks the attack by making her swords in an X shape catching Sephiroth’s kris in the middle of the X. Teresa recoils the kris making Sephiroth off balance, Teresa follows with a quick downward-diagonal slash with her left mithrodin. Sephiroth jumps back nearly escaping the strike. Sephiroth returns with a jab to Teresa chest, but Teresa sees the incoming attack and knocks the kris away with her right mithrodin by performing a downward half-circle, forcing Sephiroth to lean to the left. Teresa quickly counters with a double uppercut lacerating Sephiroth’s chest. Sephiroth stumbles backwards, Teresa follows up with a double sideways slash, but Sephiroth desperately sprawls to the ground, and circles to his feet as Teresa impales her left mithrodin where Sephiroth had laid. Sephiroth quickly jabs once more at Teresa connecting her right ribs. Teresa retaliates by swinging her right mithrodin, but Sephiroth easily blocks the attack. Teresa backs up to create distance between Sephiroth and herself.

“Kneel before me, and I will make your death quick.” Sephiroth sneered.

“Never!” Teresa shouted, as she lunges forward with a downward slash. Sephiroth steps back from the attack.

“You are making this to easy.” Sephiroth said as he jabs again at Teresa, but Teresa slaps the attack away, countering with a downward-diagonal slash catching Sephiroth across his left eye. Sephiroth blinded by blood doesn’t realize Teresa coming with a second attack with her left mithrodin decapitating him. Sephiroth’s headless body collapses to the ground as his head rolls to the tip of his kris.

The maze walls barrows into the ground reviling the wounded Teresa and the decapitated Sephiroth.

“It appears we have a winner, Teresa!” The arena master shouted. Teresa collapsed to the ground, as the harpy medic’s swarm her side.

“We shall take a thirty minute intermission; combatants of the southern barrack prepare yourselves.” The arena master said.

“Teresa.” Seryth whispers as his opponent Leo approaches him. Leo is not the average assassin. He is a bulky human warrior with steel armor, wielding two battle-axes.

“Looks like we are the first match.” Leo said to Seryth.

“You are not the typical assassin.” Seryth commented.

“No. I prefer to use my brute strength to kill my victims. What about you, you don’t look like most of the assassins I’ve seen?” Leo remarked.

“I assure you I am deadly with my blades.” Seryth said.

“We’ll see about that.” Leo said as he left.

“Southern barrack, it is time for the first match, the human warrior, Leo of Silver Heart, verses, the human rogue, Seryth of Ragnarok!” The arena master announced. Seryth exits the barrack making his way to the far side of the arena. Leo stops at the gates of the barrack.

“Fight!” The arena master shouted. Seryth notches an arrow and readies his bow. Leo charges Seryth at full speed; Seryth aims and fires the arrow, but Leo was quicker stepping out of the arrow’s path. Seryth equips his kukri in his left and his katana in his right as Leo hacks at Seryth, but Seryth quickly rolls out of the way. Seryth pops back to his feet, but must dodge another lethal blow.

“Hold still so my axes can sink into your squirmy body!” Leo roared as he kept the onslaught up forcing Seryth to stay on the defenses. After several minutes of Leo’s assault, he slowed down the pace. Seryth took advantage of the slower pace and took on the offensives. Seryth quickly darted behind Leo striking Leo in the back with an overhand slash with his kukri cutting into the flesh. Leo swung behind to catch Seryth, but Seryth was already circling around Leo. Seryth was behind Leo once again, but Leo was wiser back kicking Seryth in the stomach, knocking the air out. Leo turned to face Seryth.

“Now hold still! This won’t hurt a bit!” Leo shouted as he swung both axes down at Seryth. Seryth blocks the attack with his katana struggling to hold the weight of the axes bearing down on him. Leo brings his right axe back up ready to strike again. Seryth makes one last ditch effort to escape by rolling backwards. Leo loses balance tumbling forward. Seryth seizes the moment kicking Leo in the temple. Seryth stands over Leo’s unconscious body.

“This won’t hurt a bit.” Seryth said mocking the warrior. Leo begins to recover but is too late for Seryth impales him with his katana in the heart.

“Seryth is victorious. Proceed to the Rogues Den!” The arena master announced. Seryth wipes the blood off his kukri and katana, and then sheaths them.

Seryth ventures down a narrow corridor that lies between the east and south barracks. The hallway expands one hundred meters of rugged terrain filled with stalagmites. As Seryth proceeds forward, but loses balance from the slippery cavern floors. Seryth grips stalagmite to stand himself up, slips once more.

“This is ridiculous. A rogue losing balance on rock.” Seryth smirked. Seryth finally steadies himself and pulls himself to his feet.

“I really need to find dry land.” Seryth said to himself as he walks with caution to the Thieves. Two harpy guards awaited Seryth at the entrance.

“Welcome to the Thieves Hall. This is where you shall learn the ways of the thief. Follow me.” One harpy greeted. The Harpy escorts Seryth to the middle of the small room.

“To the left is the Mess Hall where you can eat. To the right is the sleeping quarters. There are cots already set up. As you can see the middle is for training. You may train with the other thieves or with the practice dummies in the back. There is a one rules that you must abide by. No killing. You are here to become a thief not a murder. If you follow this one rule and complete your tasks then, you may have a chance to further your training. Make yourself at home if you have any questions talk to any of us guards.” The harpy explained.

“I do have one.” Seryth said.

“What is it?” The harpy asked.

“You mentioned tasks. Where or whom do I speak with to find tasks?” Seryth asked.

“Your tasks will be given to you via mail.” The harpy replied.

“And where do I receive my mail?” Seryth asked.

“We shall give you it. Anymore questions?” The harpy asked.

“That is all.” Seryth replied. Seryth made his way to the sleeping quarters.

“Teresa.” Seryth said. Teresa looked behind her to see Seryth in the doorway.

“Seryth! You survived!” Teresa exclaimed. She rushed to Seryth embracing him in a hug.

“Of course.” Seryth said.

“There is a spare cot next to mine.” Teresa said pulling him to the cot. The cot sat in the far corner to the right. The cot has six wooden legs two in the front, middle, and back. It is bare except for a cotton-filled pillow.

“Here is a blanket.” Teresa said handing Seryth a tannish wooly blanket. Seryth spread the blanket on the cot.

“I think im going to rest a bit.” Seryth said.

“I was just thinking that as well.” Teresa said in agreement. The cot begin to squeak as Seryth crawled onto it.

“That doesn’t sound good.” Seryth said.

“What do you expect from wooden legs.” Teresa remarked as she to crawled onto her cot.

“You do have a point.” Seryth said.

“Try to get some sleep.” Teresa said.

“I’ll try.” Seryth said. Seryth tossed and turn the entire night, waking up what felt like every five minutes. Morning came although Seryth couldn’t tell except by seeing the other thieves stumble out of bed and exiting the sleeping quarters. Seryth turns to Teresa.

“Hey, Teresa.” Seryth said shaking her shoulder. Teresa groans. “I think it’s time to get up.” Seryth said nudging her a bit harder.

“Fine, I’m up.” Teresa said. Seryth and Teresa climb out of bed, and made their way to the Mess Hall.

“What’s to eat?” Seryth asked drowsy.

“I think there are some basilisk eggs, lizard legs, and some other meat.” Teresa said.

“Sounds lizardy.” Seryth said as he grabbed his plate. Seryth filled his plate with two basilisk eggs, three small lizard legs, and a bat wing. Seryth and Teresa found a small round stone table.

“What did you get?” Seryth asked.

“Some bat tails, eyes, ears, and snake.” Teresa said. After they eat their breakfast, they went to the training hall.

“Well time to train. Want to have a duel?” Teresa asked.

“You’re on.” Seryth said.

“But first we need some practice weapons.” Teresa said.

“Where do we get the practice weapons?” Seryth asked.

“Follow me.” Teresa said, leading them to a storage room by the practice dummies.

“Pick your poison.” Teresa said grabbing a wooden mithrodin. Seryth scoured the weapons, but only found a katana.

“Looks like I’m using just a katana.” Seryth said to himself.

“Hurry up; we’ll never be able to duel.” Teresa hurried.

“I’m ready.” Seryth said twirling his katana.

“Bout time let’s go.” They went to the middle and readied their weapons.

“Let’s see how you fair against a harpy.” Teresa said holding her mithrodin at her side.

“Better not undermine my skill just against my race.” Seryth said unsheathing his weapons. Both charged at one another Seryth swung first connecting the middle of Teresa’s mithrodin, Teresa recoils the katana following with a sweep. Seryth realizing the move back rolls to escape the attack. Teresa gets into a defensive stance as Seryth takes the offensive once more displaying marvelous swordsman skill with his katana; however, Teresa blocks every attack.

“Not bad for a human.” Teresa said as she separates her mithrodin. “Now it’s my turn.” Teresa hammers on Seryth with swift strikes, Seryth struggles to defend against the assault, but is caught off guard when Teresa attacks high with her right mithrodin as she follows up with a sweep. Seryth tumbles to the ground with Teresa standing over him.

“No human is a match for a harpy.” Teresa teased.

“You just caught me off guard.” Seryth said.

“Excuses, excuses.” Teresa said holding out a hand. Seryth grabs her hand and gets back up on his feet.

“Want to try again?” Teresa asked.

“Yeah, but first I think I’ll try the harpy’s weapon.” Seryth said.

“A human using a mithrodin, this I have to see.” Teresa said. Seryth returns to the storage room and returns wielding a mithrodin.

“Feels like a staff.” Seryth said.

“Just don’t cry when you get beat again.” Teresa said. The two start in the same spot as in the first. Seryth starts offensively once again twirling the mithrodin as if it was a pole.

“A human should never be allowed to wield a mithrodin.” Teresa said disgusted by Seryth’s display. Teresa fires back with her own style of attack forcing Seryth to defend himself. Teresa came high and low with tremendous speed; Seryth struggled once again to defend the attacks when he remembers in the previous duel that Teresa separated the mithrodin. Seryth quickly separates the mithrodin catching Teresa’s attack by performing an X block.

“Fast learner, but you forget I can do the same.” Teresa smirked as she dissembles her mithrodin. Seryth and Teresa displayed skillful strikes with high and low attacks trying hard to take advantage of one.

“It seems we are at a stalemate.” Seryth said exhausted.

“I over estimated your skill with a mithrodin, how about we call it a draw.” Teresa panted.

“It’s a draw then.” Seryth agreed. Seryth and Teresa return the practice weapons and went to the sleeping quarters. Seryth fell fast asleep, however the nightmare returns. Seryth dreams of Blanc struck by Zander’s trident a necessity if Bane was to pay for his wrong doings. As Seryth watches the life of Blanc fade, he notices it’s not Blanc but Teresa. Seryth wakes up suddenly and looks over to Teresa unharmed and sound asleep.

“Nightmare again, pathetic.” Seryth whispers to himself trying to clear his mind of the dream.

“Seryth you ok?” Teresa asked.

“I’m fine, go back to sleep.” Seryth said, as he lies awake. “Nothing is simple anymore.” Seryth thought to himself as he drifts back to sleep.

The next morning Seryth was the last awake. He gets out of bed and heads to the training room.

“Morning.” Teresa said.

“Morning Teresa.” Seryth said.

“Didn’t sleep well?” Teresa asked.

“Its nothing.” Seryth said as a messenger approach them.

“Seryth you have mail.” The messenger said handing Seryth a letter. The letter is fine white with a mysterious insignia stamped on the back.

“Who is it from?” Seryth asked.

“Not sure.” Seryth said as he opens the letter. Inside Seryth finds a note that reads:

Dear Seryth,

I have been watching you for a while and I think you are ready for your first mission as a thief. Your first mission will be to steal a necklace. The necklace belongs to Zune a harpy that resides in a small section of Dunmore. I have given you a map to find his necklace. Once you’ve obtained the necklace you will find a chest on your map go there and put it in that chest, you will receive a letter once I have the necklace.

Sincerely,

Death

“It’s a mission.” Seryth said.

“A mission? What do you have to do?” Teresa asked.

“I have to steal a necklace from Zune. It came with a map, I better get going don’t want to keep Death waiting.” Seryth said.

“Good luck.” Teresa said. Seryth examined the map. The map showed a line leaving the thieves hall in the direction that Seryth entered. Seryth follows the trail on the map coming to a passageway on his right indicated by the map. Seryth follows the passageway using extreme stealth not to awaken any creatures that may still be asleep. Seryth comes to a Y. Seryth studies the map.

“It says to keep right.” Seryth said to himself and proceeds forward. An hour later Seryth finds the entrance to Zune’s lair. Seryth peers inside seeing Zune awake at his desk with a jewelry box sitting to the side closest to his bed.

“I’ll have to wait for him to sleep if I want to get that necklace. In the meantime I’ll set up camp. Maybe the Y would be a good spot.” Seryth told himself. Seryth returns to the Y and takes the left passageway. “Dead end. Wait what’s this?” Seryth asked as he examines a crawlspace in the back wall. “I wonder where this leads.” Seryth said as he examined the map. “The map doesn’t show the crawlspace. I guess there’s only one way to find out where it leads.” Seryth gets on all fours and enters the tight tunnel. As Seryth crawls through the tunnel it shrinks smaller and smaller forcing him to army crawl. Seryth approaches a corner that turns into a slippery slide crashing to the bottom and entangling himself in a ball.

“Ugh. Great how am I going to get back. Well better keep pushing forward.” Seryth said to himself hoping that this doesn’t lead to a dead end. Finally Seryth sees a glimmer of light radiating from a crack. Seryth picks at the crack revealing a familiar room.

“Is this Zune’s lair?” Seryth asked, as he fumbles around to retrieve the map and a pencil. Seryth draws the tunnel he crawled to and it appears to lead directly into Zune’s lair.

“This must be it.” Seryth said, peering out of the opening to see Zune getting onto his bed. Seryth waited thirty minutes before leaving his hiding spot. Seryth stalks over to the jewelry box silently picking the lock and retrieving the amulet. Seryth exits through the known entrance and re-examines the map.

“In order to get to the chest I have to turn left up here.” Seryth said. Seryth follows the trail according to the map through a twisty passageway nearing a dead end where a chest laid on the cave floor. Seryth opens the chest finding another letter.

Dear Seryth,

I assume you are opening this chest because you have the amulet. Place it in the chest, in exchange for a more detailed map.

Thank you,

Death

The new map shows the secret crawlspace as well as another secret tunnel that leads to the sleeping quarters.

Seryth exits the secret crawlspace.

“Hello Teresa.” Seryth said in a friendly voice.

“Ah. Seryth? How did you? Where?” Teresa flabbergasted.

“There’s a secret crawlspace. Here is the map.” Seryth said handing Teresa the map.

“Secret crawlspace?” Teresa asked as she examines the map. “You know what this means?” Teresa asked.

“What?” Seryth asked.

“We can use this to sneak out and practice by ourselves.” Teresa said.