CHAPTER 11
"Another Dead End!" Garrick called back with a tone of disgust in his voice. "Curse this evil place and all who dwell here," Gilchrist yelled to the utter shock of his companions. "Quiet Gilchrist!" Enrico fumed, "Do you want to get us all killed." "I am sorry, but I have a feeling that if we do not find that Shaman quickly we will all be doomed." "The only thing that will doom us is if you keep yelling," Enrico shot back as he turned to retrace their steps.
As they all turned to follow, Aenarion walked up beside Gilchrist and patted him on the back. "I have a feeling you are right. I have sensed a strange ripple in the Winds of Magic. Whatever these Orcs are up to it is no good." "Well now we understand why the Emperor wants this Orc Shaman killed so badly," Lyndryell added as he made his way to the front of the group. They walked back through several rooms and corridors.
"Garrick," Lyndryell called, "I think this is the room where we took the wrong turn." "I believe you are right, now we can either continue down that hall," Garrick said pointing to the open doorway, "or we can go through that door over there." Lyndryell looked both ways, walked toward they hall and knelt to the floor looking for some clue as to the best way to go. Enrico followed him and cautiously looked down the hallway. "To hell with caution, we need to move now!" Gilchrist muttered as he bolted for the door. Aenarion tried to grab him but he was too slow. Gilchrist reached the door and disappeared inside.
It only took Gilchrist a moment to realize he had made a big mistake, as three creatures stared at him from across the room. Three sets of fiery red eyes that felt as if they were burning right through his flesh stared at him. Three gaping maws full of long sharp teeth that could chew a man as if he was nothing but a slab of meat. The creatures lumbered forward toward their next meal, crushing the bones of their previous victims that littered the floor with every step. Their legs and bodies were similar to a man's, but their heads were like a giant bull with two large horns and they were coming his way. "Minotaurs!" Gilchrist whispered as he drew his sword. "Sigmar save me!"
The five companions walked wearily down the road. It had been a long and treacherous journey back from the Badlands, where they had killed the Orc Shaman at Karak-Azgal. They had stopped briefly at Nuln to resupply and then set out again for Altdorf. It was nearing nightfall as they approached the main gates to the city.
"I can't wait to get rid of that bag. It is really starting to smell bad." "Well, what do you expect Enrico," Gilchrist said as he walked up beside him. "We've been carrying it around for 8 weeks." "Goblins smell bad enough when they are alive," Aenarion laughed and the others followed suit. "Next time we find another way to prove that we killed some old Orc, without having to carry its head around with us everywhere we go," Lyndryell chimed in. "I'm just glad Garrick volunteered to carry it so I wouldn't have to," Enrico laughed, "The big guy is good for something." Garrick looked at Enrico, "Oh excuse me mighty Defender of the Village of Barlow, those were particularly tough Orcs, and my back has been bothering me. Besides, I wouldn't want that beautiful breastplate of yours to get any dirtier than it is. It's really too bad that you couldn't buy a new one. Yours is beginning to look like something a commoner would wear. You must really have made someone angry." "You can bet my father will hear about Luigi & Salvator's turning me away," Enrico snorted. "They said riff raff weren't allowed in their shop. How dare they!" "Calm down Enrico," Gilchrist said, smiling at the thought of the cocky young Noble being thrown out of the shop on his backside. "All we have to do is take the bag to Captain Jerock, get our reward, and then you can buy your new armour."
Enrico's eyebrows raised in mock surprise, "Calm down, you're a fine one to tell me to calm down." "What do you mean by that?" Gilchrist asked defensively. "I believe he is referring to your little incident with the Minotaurs," Garrick replied. "Oh, that. Well, it must have been the after effects of that magical pool. It knocked Lyndryell, Enrico, and I out and it nearly killed Aenarion. I was just a little out of sorts after that." "Out of sorts!" Enrico exclaimed. "After we killed the Minotaurs, you stuck your gun in my face and yelled, 'Kill the Spawn of Satan' and nearly shot my head off." "Well, I already apologized for that, besides, who was it that nearly stuck me in the back with his dagger," Gilchrist shot back. "Yeah," Enrico sneered, "see how well you throw when you have a fireball chasing you down the hall." With that, Garrick started laughing. "I couldn't fight worth a damn, Aenarion couldn't shoot worth a damn, Gilchrist can't hold his pool water, Enrico looked like the Spawn of Satan, and Lyndryell was drinking healing potions faster than a Barbarian drinks ale. Although somehow we did manage to kill the Shaman. I hope it goes a little smoother the next time." They were still laughing when they reached the main gate. They entered the city and headed toward the palace.
"200 gold! 200 gold! We travelled 8 weeks for 200 gold. That's not even enough to buy my new armour." "Oh quit your whining Enrico," Gilchrist said as they were walking out of the palace into the courtyard. "Between the Elf showing off that urn he bought in Nuln..." "But it completes the set," Aenarion interjected. Gilchrist continued, ignoring the Elf's hurt expression, "and you talking about how well your investments are paying off, the Emperor probably figured we found some pretty good treasure on our journey, which we never would have undertaken if not for him." "Still, I believe next time we should work out payment in advance," Garrick stated as they made their way to the nearest tavern.
"The Emperor's Watering Hole!" Enrico exclaimed proudly, "The best tavern in Altdorf. The quintet walked in. "This place is huge," Lyndryell whispered. "If you want to know what is happening in the world, you can usually find someone here who knows," Enrico replied. "It sure beats most of the hell pits you drag us to," Gilchrist stated as he made his way to a dimly lit corner of the room. "No trouble tonight, just a few drinks and off to bed," he added for good measure. They had been at the tavern a couple of hours, talking to fellow adventurers, doing a few dances and trading stories of fortune and glory, when Lyndryell and Gilchrist went off to find a place to stay for the night. "Ah! Good, with those two gone, we can get to more serious business," Enrico said, pointing to three ladies at a table near the center of the room. "Not me," Garrick said. "I've got a headache. I think I'll go for a walk. You two have fun." Garrick walked out while Aenarion and Enrico walked over to the ladies who were giggling with delight as the two approached. As they neared the table, Enrico whispered to Aenarion, "It would seem our dancing was a success."
Garrick had not walked far when he heard a voice calling for him. "Garrick! Garrick!" "Who's there," Garrick replied looking around. "Garrick, I need you," the voice came again distant at first but much closer now. "Show yourself," he demanded angrily, "or I will cleave you in two." "Such angry words young Garrick, such angry words." The voice went on "When you are angry, I am strong. Your Lord is pleased with your progress. But it is time for you to give a blood sacrifice to your Lord and Master." Garrick grabbed his head, "Oh, the pain!" He could feel the muscles in his neck strain. His blood felt as if it was boiling and then he passed into unconsciousness.
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Aldrick walked quickly down the deserted street. "I was supposed to be home hours ago. Boy am I going to get in trouble." He thought to himself, "Ah, nothing ever happens here. I want some excitement, I want some adventure. I want some...." The last words caught in his throat as he fell to the ground, quite dead.
Garrick entered the temple through a secret door in an abandoned warehouse. "This will make a fine sacrifice to our Lord Khorne," the priest said, eyeing the lifeless body in Garrick's arms. "A strong young man such as this will please him greatly. In fact, our Lord has asked that you perform the ritual yourself." "A great honor indeed," Garrick answered without emotion as he picked up the long, curved dagger and walked toward the corpse.
It was nearing dawn when Garrick awoke in a back alleyway. "Oh my head hurts. What the hell happened to me. I can't remember a thing." Garrick examined his clothes and saw blood on the front of his tunic and pants. His hair was a mess and his shirt was ripped. "It must have been some brawl last night," he thought to himself. "Why can't I remember..." He sat up and shook his head. "Oh, well, questions will wait. Right now, I need to go find everyone else." At that, he got up, brushed himself off, and set off to look for his companions, not noticing that laying on the ground next to him was a gold bracelet with etching on the back which read, "To Aldrick with love Mother & Father."
Garrick found Lyndryell and Gilchrist at the Regal Arms Inn getting ready to eat breakfast. "You look like you had a rough night." Gilchrist said patting him on the back and motioning him to join them. Lyndryell nodded in agreement. I must have had too much ale, I went for a walk and passed out cold in an alley." "Tough break," came a familiar mocking voice from behind him. "I told you to come with us. We had a much more interesting time," Enrico stated proudly. "Yes," Aenarion agreed." "If you call flirting with three women who just happen to be the wives of three Arch Dukes who are guests at the palace a good time." "A minor miscalculation, that's all, but before our flight from the tavern we did come across some interesting information." "That they had daughters," Garrick interrupted. "No!" Enrico continued ignoring the raucous laughter of his friends. "That there are strange goings on in the Barren Hills. Reports of ghosts and ghouls lurking about." "Were you able to confirm any of this?" Gilchrist asked, his interest piqued. "Yes," Aenarion answered, "well I should say we heard basically the same story from three different sources." "And," Enrico added, "rumor has it that a Necromancer, Heinrich Kemmler, has taken up residence in the hills and is preparing for something. It is said he can even see things others cannot, make prophecies. Several groups of warriors have been sent in, but none have returned. Because of this, several of the lesser counts in the area are offering a substantial reward for his demise." "Reward or no reward, it is out duty to put this evil to rest," Gilchrist interrupted. "I knew you would say that," Enrico laughed, ignoring Gilchrist's heated stare.
Suddenly, Lyndryell stood up and started for the door. "Where are you going?" Aenarion asked. "We must leave at once." "At once," Garrick lamented, "I haven't even finished my breakfast yet." "My friends," Lyndryell went on "Orcs and Goblins are a natural enemy to be hated, but not feared. But to practice in the dark arts is unnatural. An affront in the face of the Gods and I fear this greatly. I swore an oath to Orion and Ariel when I left, to fight evil and this truly is evil." When he finished he surveyed them one by one and saw their heads nodding and the grim determination on their faces. "For all of their faults," Lyndryell thought to himself, "these are men of overall good character and I have chosen wisely to travel with them." His gaze finally rested on Garrick who was agreeing emphatically but still eating hungrily. "But, we can wait 'til after breakfast," he added.
