Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Twenty-Five: said the spider...
Deep within a thick dense jungle, Lord Arachnid and the Spider Lords were standing outside of what was left of a large wall. It was clear that they stood at the edge of a once powerful society - one that had vanished into the mists of time long - long ago, but the spider wizard Arachnid was having a difficult time believing that what lied before him was the city of Crae.
"This - is it?" he asked in disbelief.
"This - is what is left of Crae. They doubted our ability - they questioned our power. This was their reward," one of the Spider Lords answered.
"If you desire - this - will be all that remains - of that artificer - and his palace," another added. The thought of that brought a broad smile across his face. But the smile quickly faded.
"Lovely stories I am sure. But what proof have I that what you say is true? For all your honeyed words - you could be feeding me to the proverbial lions," Arachnid asked suspiciously. One of the female Spider Lords stepped forward and bowed to him.
"As a token of our intentions - allow us to aid you," she began. She knelt down before him and held her hands out. The other Spider Lords channeled their black power into her. Arachnid watched as dark energy cocooned around her hands. It was then that he heard a familiar chirping noise. The darkness faded - in the hands of the Spider Lord - was Nibbles!
"Nibbles!" he exclaimed. The spider jumped from the hands of the Spider Lord and onto Arachnid's shoulder.
"I am curious though - why did you not raise him yourself. I sense that you do have that power within you," she asked curiously. Arachnid almost didn't hear the question. His attention was so deeply focused on the friend he thought he had lost forever.
"Sorry - my mind was elsewhere," he stated happily as he looked over at her.
"Why didn't you raise him yourself?" she repeated.
"I tried - many times. It didn't work. That damn artificer did something that prevented the raise spell from working," he replied coldly. The spider lord rose to her feet.
"You mean - he countered the efforts?" she asked.
"No - he did some ritual when he killed Nibbles - said that no means would be able to raise him," he replied seriously.
"I have existed for quite some time - my master - I know of no such ritual. I doubt that one even exists. I think this artificer played on your emotions. Planting the seed of doubt in your mind when you were most vulnerable," she began.
"Then - all this time - I - was not making the spell work," Arachnid concluded.
"It is just a theory though," she stated.
"I wouldn't put it passed that cold hearted bastard though. I thank you for bringing Nibbles back to me. I feel as though an emptiness has been partially filled," he admitted.
"Partially?" one of the other Spider Lords asked. Arachnid thought back - and remembered Markys.
"Nothing. Private matter. So - this is Crae - where the Spiders of Crae exist," he commented.
"Indeed master. But this is a dark place. The powers that kept this place strong - now make it weak," one of the Spider Lords began.
"The path ahead - will be filled with great sacrifices - some so great - that it would shatter the spirit of a lesser man. But if you can make such sacrifice - the spiders will come to you - and vengance - true vengance - will be yours," another Spider Lord added.
"How many spiders are here?" Arachnid asked.
"When last we saw this city's walls - there were thousands - but now - I believe only one survives," one of them answered. Arachnid turned his back to the Lords and looked at the ruined city.
"How will I find her?" he asked seriously.
"You have but to enter the city. Crae - is after all - her web," the female Spider Lord closest to him replied.
"You won't follow me in?" he asked.
"Events - occurred - shortly after the fall of Crae. We made a choice we believed for the greater good - Raece - might not agree. We will wait here until your return - if -she accepts you," another Spider Lord answered. Arachnid nodded and made his way into the ruined city. All around him were the stripped and smooth bones of hundreds of people - moss covered stones - and mountains of vegetation covered debris.
"This place was felled by spiders - why are there no webs?" he asked out loud.
"If you know of the path of the spider - you would know that not all spiders - use webs to trap their prey," a shrill voice hissed. Arachnid looked over his shoulder and saw a spider the size of a pumpkin on the wall - inches from his shoulders - which looked ready to pounce.
"Of course. I am just accustomed to those that do. I presume that you are master here?" he asked calmly.
"I am Raece - the last of the Spider's of Crae - descended from the dark gods of death. This is my domain - and you are trespassing," she hissed. Arachnid saw the potent venom that dripped from the spider's fangs.
"If you seek my demise before I even speak - I have no choice. But surely the Great Spider - the one that was responsible for the fall of Crae - would be a little bit curious as to why I have ventured here," he began. The spider seemed to relax a bit.
"I care little for that which concerns man. Mankind is a vermin that stole from us that which was ours," she replied coldly. Arachnid nodded and slowly got down onto his knees. As soon as he did - Raece pounced and landed on his shoulder - Arachnid showed no fear.
"I agree. I am here to help," he stated.
"Convince me why I should not quench my - unquenchable hunger on your carcass," she hissed into his ear.
"Doing so would not serve your purpose - or our cause," he replied calmly.
"You believe that we share a common bond?" she hissed.
"Your hatred for mankind is probably only a little greater than my own. I have devoted all of my power and resources to protecting spiders everywhere from the scourge that mankind is," he replied seriously.
"But they are - your - kind," she pointed out.
"Don't remind me," he retorted. He then heard what could almost pass for the spider's laughter.
"You - amuse me," she stated as she hopped from his shoulder.
"If I may inquire - how is it that you are still here? I thought that after you felled this place that you would have moved on," he asked. The spider hissed at the spider wizard.
"I was betrayed by those that called me to this wretched place! Thousands of my sisters exiled from this place to reap vengance on the unsuspecting world - when I tried to leave - those cursed Spider Lords cast a spell that trapped me in this place," she replied angrily.
"Thousands? But - I haven't seen or heard of your kind until recently. When did this exile occur?" he asked seriously. The spider scurried over to where Arachnid stood.
"That cannot be - the exile happened hundreds of years ago. The world must have been - there could have been no - what madness is this? How could no one remember the legacy of terror that my bite brings?" she asked in modest disbelief.
"I assure you - I have no answers. But some power must have stopped your noble cause. All we can do - is hope that we can right - what went so terribly wrong - so many years ago," he replied seriously.
"You are far wiser than most of the arrogant fools that have tried to seek dominion over me," she stated calmly. Arachnid bowed to the spider.
"No spider is my thrall - each I consider equal - if not more so. I fight for their cause - and their survival," he stated seriously.
"Hmm. You may be the one the dark gods spoke to me of," she stated as she scurried away from the wizard. "But, if you are truly he - then I may be your servant - in these - interesting times ahead," she continued.
"As I say - to me - you would be no less than equal. But if you are the last of your kind - should anything happen to you," Arachnid began. Once again, the spider chuckled.
"Worry less about me and more about - our vision - of the future. I am an agent of the dark gods - of death and destruction. Through their power - I thrive. You see, I reproduce - in a different way from most. Bring to me - something - big," she requested. Arachnid nodded. With a wave of his hand - a giant spider appeared beside him. Arachnid watched as the small spider raced at the unsuspecting giant spider. Raece sunk her fangs into the spider's leg. It was then that Arachnid felt his heard stop. Both Raece and the Giant Spider keeled over. Raece then began to wither before his eyes.
"What have I done?" he asked himself - on the brink of panic. It was then that a black mist escaped from the wound on the leg of the giant spider. The mist swirled all over the withering remains it. When the mist died down - two Spiders of Crae stood beside each other.
"It wasn't very strong, but I take it - you get the idea," one of the two spiders stated.
"Your venom - kills its target - and impregnates the dead creature. Amazing - but how will this work against things not of flesh and blood? The man I seek destroyed - surrounds himself with things that are not alive," he asked.
"Be it flesh - or metal - the venom - always works. Nothing can withstand our power. For the more powerful the enemy," she began.
"The more of your kind you spawn. Clever - but not fool proof," Arachnid replied. With a wave of his hand, black energy pinned one of the two spiders to the ground.
"What treachery is this?" the restrained spider demanded.
"No treachery. I have traveled far to find you. I would never be able to forgive myself should I be responsible for the extinction of your kind. The spell I placed on you - is temporary. After Toy Maker is dealt with - I promise - I will return," Arachnid replied sincerely. "Come Raece - we have a war to start and win," he added as the two made their way away from the paralyzed spider.
"If you plan to betray me," she warned.
"I would do no such thing. Can you tell me exactly how it is that you are trapped here?" he asked seriously.
"I don't know. All I know is that if I approach the boarder where the city ends - pain - unlike anything I could describe rips through me," she replied. Arachnid stopped and looked at the exit to the ruined city.
"Hmm. Perhaps - we can trick the spell of binding," he began. With a wave of his hand - green energy swirled around the startled spider.
"What? What are you doing? What is happening to me?" she shrieked. As the energy spun faster - he could see the spider slowly transforming from spider - into a human woman. The spell ended and an enraged woman was glaring at the man that had done that to her.
"What - have you done to me?" she demanded.
"The spell - is temporary. Hear me out?" he requested. Raece looked away from the man that had turned her into that which she hated most.
"Talk," she muttered. Arachnid removed his cloak and extended it to the angry - nude woman. She looked over at him as though he had grown a second head.
"Human morality is not a trait I feel. Talk - and make it quick," she warned. Arachnid nodded and put his cloak back on.
"The spell that binds you here. I am wagering that it is meant to keep the Spiders of Crae - imprisoned - not - I'll wager - a human woman," he pointed out.
"You had better be able to undo this - curse you have placed on me," she muttered in disgust.
"I would not disgrace you otherwise. Shall we put my theory to the test?" he asked curiously. The woman sighed and shook her head.
"Whatever," she replied. The two slowly made their way to the boarder. As they did - Arachnid could see the apprehension brewing in Raece.
"Where do you usually feel the pain?" he asked.
"A few feet - we're almost there," she answered hesitantly. She looked over and noticed him looking at her. She scowled at him and slapped him across the face.
"Do not look at me like a human! I have no use for males as a spider and human mating practices disgust me!" she scolded. Arachnid nodded and looked away.
"My apologies. I meant no disrespect. But - do you feel any pain?" he asked seriously. It was only then that she realized that she was beyond the point where the spell of binding began. She looked at the back of her hands - no pain - nothing. She took another step forward - and another - no pain. Arachnid watched as she ran like a fugitive out of the city. Once there she turned and raised a defiant fist at the ruined walls.
"I am free of you at last!" she exclaimed happily. Arachnid smiled and walked over to where Raece was dancing. Before he could even say a word she rushed over and hugged him. It was then that Raece became aware of what she was doing and jerked away from the spider wizard.
"Don't get any ideas. I'm just happy to be free of that prison," she muttered. Moments later - the Spider Lords appeared a few feet away from them Raece sniffed the air and looked over at the familiar wizards.
"You! You cretins have the unmitigated gall - to still be alive!" she demanded. Arachnid quickly stood between the angry woman and the Spider Lords.
"Raece? You've changed," one of the wizards commented.
"Get out of my way Arachnid - those bastards imprisoned me back there!" she demanded.
"You wanted a strong city - we gave you one. We asked - no begged - that you be patient. That you not move against the world. You mocked us. We were unable to stop the others from making that fatal mistake - but we were able to save you," one of the older looking Spider Lords stated.
"Save? You call living in a dead city for almost a thousands years - saving?" she retorted.
"Do you know how many of your kind still exist?" one of the other Spider Lords asked.
"This - man - knows of none," she replied coldly.
"That is because - your kind was wiped out - months after you invaded the world," the Spider Lord said.
"That - that isn't possible," she began in disbelief.
"Isn't it? They didn't use the discretion you did. They openly charged out at cities. Some fell, but others heard of the - infestation - as they called it. Archers - Prodigal Sorcerers - master artificers - all were called in. they - purged - as they called it - the infected areas. Once the fallen cities were cleansed - they hunted down the survivors. Credit where do though - they lasted ten years - before the last one - save you - was exterminated," the Spider Lord concluded.
"Why - why didn't you tell me this sooner?" she asked hesitantly - her voice cracking.
"We were coming to free you when we were attacked by one of those hunting parties. Their weapons - were laced with a poison extracted from a rare wasp. They took our bodies and were going to burn them. But our spiders - our loyal - carried us away. Lesser spider mages sealed us in a protective tomb. We hadn't told any about you - in fear that they would loose you - and cause you to fall as the others had," he replied.
"Enough - I can not think like this. Change me back Arachnid. Do it now," the woman emotionally demanded. Arachnid nodded. Black and green mana swirled around the woman. They all watched as her shape changed from that of a woman - back into that of a spider. When the mana faded - she was as she was supposed to be.
"Much better. You - people - I will deal with shortly. Arachnid - I thank you from freeing me from my prison. As reward for your services - I will aid you in killing your enemy - this - artificer you spoke of. Once he is out of the way - I will deal with you lot," Raece muttered in disgust.
"There is going to be the matter of another wizard," Arachnid began.
"Learn to focus if you desire to succeed. If you look past an enemy - you welcome death with open arms. Right now - the artificer - is our only concern," she retorted. Arachnid nodded. On that note - the small band began to travel. Their destination - Toy Maker's Palace!
To be continued...
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