For once it isn't Gritgut causing all the mayhem. In the tenth installment of Corey's Axiomatic Anarchy, Solis helps Landon wins his freedom, and the two set off to free their barbarian companion.
What does melted golem smell like?
Darkness pressed around Gritgut. He stared blankly onward, longing for direction within the void. A speck of light popped into existence. It drew nearer, tendrils spread from its base while two sparkling beads of emerald flared to life near its apex. Gritgut started - the ball of light was really a being. The figure walked purposely and steadily, as though time and haste held no meaning.
"Who you?" His voice dropped like molten iron from a forge.
The entity came forward and bowed at the waist. Gritgut scratched his head at the kneeling figure. Silently, the being clutched Gritgut's wrists and the verdant flames of its eyes met Gritgut's gaze. A tingle fired down the savage's spine.
"Confused, lost, brash, but valiant still. Rest, rise not until they call you...but then rise with honor!
"Crown now lies in your hands..."
The being of light erupted in a furry of luminous energy, blinding Gritgut. The darkness returned and the barbarian yielded to the urge to simply close his eyes and sleep.
Landon nodded grimly when Solis arrived with two hobgoblin guards. One opened the cell door while the other stepped in and clasped manacles on the unresisting mage. The cuffs even had fingerlocks to keep spellcasters, such as himself, from causing further problems. They then shoved a soiled rag into Landon's mouth, partly for fun and as an extra security measure.
Solis' eyes spoke a silent apology, while he stepped backwards to allow the pair to leave the cell. They walked single file, save for Solis who was parallel to the mage. He glanced at the human, sensing the frustration in the young man's eyes as suffered the fetid taste of the gag and the stiffness of the fingerlocks. "Don't worry; soon you will be liberated."
Landon merely blew out a sigh in response.
They rounded a few corners, leaving the complex of cells far behind, and entered a series of empty tunnels. As they stepped into a low arching passage, Solis tripped, sending both his bag and Landon sprawling. The lumillon cursed as his satchel dumped out the vials, salves, herbs and other trinkets he owned. One of the guards moved to roughly jerk the prisoner up, the other leveled his weapon at the healer. "What ye doin, glow'stick?!" Garzhin rumbled.
Solis briefly glared at the brutish guard as he continued to gather his things. "Gathering my salves, of course! They'll be needed. Blast the decrepit maker of these fell passages though!" The sentry reluctantly sheathed his weapon, though the other kept his hand on Landon.
Brushing his jerkin clean of the dirt, Solis muttered. "Enough of this fool place!"
He snapped upright, shoving Landon against the wall as he sliced horizontally with his dagger. The hobgoblins had done him a favor standing next to each other. Mechanically, the guards reached for their throats, but the spark of life quickly evaporated from their eyes. Both let out a soft gurgle as they collapsed in a heap. Solis' dirk glowed softly as the blood seeped into the metal.
He moved quickly and cut the gag away from Landon's cheek. Breathing in deeply, the mage appraised the dead guards before saying, "Could've done that before they shoved that offal in my mouth."
"Yes, and then the prison would've resounded with the cries of others wanting freedom. I thought you wanted to escape, not die in a riot." The bard's cool assessment left no room for verbal sparring. Solis replaced his dirk and shouldered his satchel. Handing Landon some dried mint leaves to suck on, the loresinger moved down the corridor. "Time to get on with our plan before someone finds the mess."
Landon smiled and asked, "Would they be missed if no one saw them?"
"If no one comes through here, it'd be hours until the alarm was raised." Solis raised an eyebrow at the mage's eager look.
Landon's smile enlarged. "Perfect."
Intoning a few words, Landon pointed his right index finger down at the two hobgoblins. A green beam shot forth, hitting the pile of cooling hobgoblin. Their hides fluttered momentarily, before crumbling into dust. Landon wave his hand and a slight breeze scattered the remains through the hall. "Now, let us finish this!"
The two slipped through the dark tunnels, dodging sentries and other denizens, and drew steadily closer to the region above the arena. They came to an alcove entrance where a familiar sound greeted Solis' ears. Darting closer, he saw Gritgut lying on the floor, groaning and obviously unconscious. Two castigators stood watch over him. Solis was about to slink back when a fiery torrent swept past each shoulder and struck both constructs in the chest. The flames engulfed the suits of armor, fusing some of the plates together. Two more columns of fire quickly followed the first, completely turning the guardians into lumps of molten slag.
Solis crouched and ran towards the chained oltreggan. Appraising his wounds, the bard pulled out a smooth stone, his Healer's Stone - the birthstone every lumilon possessed, which augmented their reviving powers. He focused on the wellspring of power within him and touched the barbarian. Gritgut's gasping turned into steady breaths as the bruises on his knees and neck reduced. The bard whispered quietly into his companion's ear, "Rest well, you will soon be free."
Landon returned from the mouth of the other entrance. "There's an armory in the next room; plenty of wondrous blades and bludgeons, but Penance has taken a liking to Gritgut's weapon: it rests on a dais, where everyone can view it.
"I'll try to maneuver around the wards and gather the anchor, though it'll take the both of us to heft it back. I never fathomed I'd be stealing a ship's brake." The mage shook his head in disbelief.
"Makes penning the tale more novel." Solis' eyes twinkled with mirth. "However, I can disarm the traps, ensorcelled or not. Any guards?"
Landon shook his head. "Oddly, no. Perhaps he does not have too many unexpected guests."
