Chapter 195: Ratopolis Now

Chapter 195: Ratopolis Now

We waited. No one said anything. Nothing happened.

Who are we hiding from? I asked eventually.

The Queens Guard, said the rat. Unlike the other rats Id heard speaking, this one had a lighter voice and a more refined accent. A posh rat.

The Queens Guard? said Marv. Down here? That

I dont think he means your queen, right? It was tricky holding a conversation in the dark and not being able to see anyones expressions, although it also made it easier as I wasnt sure Id be able to keep my cool talking to a giant fucking rat. Swings and roundabouts.

I mean the Queen, my mother. She ordered me to stay in my room, and it just isnt fair.

This was who the rats had been in a frenzy to find? Some spoiled brat rat?

An orange glow flickered at the other end of the tunnel with rat-shaped silhouettes running up the lit walls.

Quickly, said the rat as he dived into the wall and disappeared. I rushed towards where he had jumped and found a gap between floor and wall, barely wide enough to slide through. I heard footsteps running and threw myself at the gap.

I fell through, scraping my face and hands against the uneven stone, and landed in a small confined space. The rat was under me. Marv landed on top of me forcing the air out of all of us. No one dared inhale.

Shrill, chittering voices spoke just above us.

Did you see where he went?

Nah, no sign of the runt.

Hey, watch your mouth. Its Prince Runt to you.

Laughter followed, which then drifted away. They were heading back the way they came, it sounded like. I finally breathed again and shoved Marv back up and out of the gap. She disappeared into the tunnel. If the rats were still about, they could have her.

I waited a second and then clambered out after her. I lay on my stomach but there was no sign of the rats. I could sense Marv lying beside me, her breathing coarse and ragged. We both shuffled to the side as we were joined by the rat.

Theyre really searching this hard for you because you wouldnt go to your room? Rat society was obviously very strict.

There was a scuffle as Marv quickly scrambled over me. Who are you? Tell us the truth, vermin! she hissed. Which was probably racist.

Some struggling followed and I felt obliged to produce a ball of light to see what was going on. I did consider taking this opportunity to make a run for it and leave them to it, but once I realised rat boy (also probably a racist term) was my best hope for finding a way out, I decided to intervene.

The light, glowing at the lowest possible brightness, illuminated an awkward scene of rat-man-woman (rat-man/woman?) intimacy. Marv straddled the rat and had him pinned on his back. He had his tail wrapped around her throat. It was like I was witnessing the birth of a new porn genre. Except that Marv also had a stiletto dagger held behind and thrust under her, towards the rats groin. Not something you see in many pornos. Well, not outside of Belgium.

Get off him. I kicked Marv in the backside with the heel of my shoe, knocking her over. It was not a light tap.nove(l)bi(n.)com

He is our enemy, snarled Marv, twisting around to face the rat with the stiletto aimed at his terrified face. Which reminded me to get another spike made. Ah, the good old days when it had been just me and my spike; that weapon had served me well. I made a mental note: one spoon on a chain, one metal spike with a handle. No point trying to beat an RPG without the correct loadout.

Marv looked ready to skewer the princely rat right in the face. Thats the trouble with people who claim to be good at what they do but screw up when they actually have to prove itthey overcompensate and try to prove their worth in other areas where no one actually gives a shit.

He isnt anyones enemy. Hes a kid. How old are you?

The rat scurried backwards until he bumped into the wall. His long almond shaped ears twitched nervously (Im guessing). Im two. He said it like he was suggesting he was no kid. Two in rat years was probably more in human terms, but there was no way of knowing exactly without a conversion chart.

See? I said to Marv. Hes only two. I dont know what I hoped to gain by telling her that. Draw out some long dead and dust covered mothering instinct

Vermin, she insisted.

I turned back. Fengarad is overrun with refugees from Monsterland. Doesnt matter if youre man or beast, there is no guarantee of safety and only staying alert and on guard can get us there in one piece.

He nodded. I looked over at Marv. If you want to go back to Requbar, or find Sonny to finish the job, we part ways here. Please part ways, please part ways.

I will come with you. Damn it. For now. Well, it was a small window of hope, my hope being at some point Id get a chance to throw her out of an open window.

I too, said Nyx. You will find no truer, or braver, companion than Ny

The ground began to shake. Only a slight tremor at first, then rocks and dust fell from the tunnel and outside three were even louder sounds of destruction. If this was the big one, flaming lava could come bursting through the walls at any moment.

Nyx fell to the floor, bounced back to his feet, turned his horrified eyes every which way, and then ran for the tunnel mouth the rat soldiers had come from. I managed to grab him before he got away.

Where are you going?

The ghosts are angry, he screamed at me. We have angered the dead. We must return to Ratopolis, it is the only safe place.

The tremor subsided and I could hear the distant screams of rats in distress.

That wasnt the dead and this is the perfect time to escape. Theyll be too busy to stop us getting into the haunted zone, and then well be free. This is what adventurers doface their fears. Are you truly and adventurer, Nyx Huranyx.

I was giving him the full bullshit treatment, turned all the way to eleven and a half. His panicked eyes stopped oscillating and his furry little jaw set his mouth into a hard line.

Yes, lets go. Nyx crouched low, and ran to the end of the tunnel, away from Ratopolis. I followed and Marv was right behind me. Our little train left the tunnel and set off across the wide open cavern, my small ball of light hovering over us like a spotlight.

The ground shook again. Keep going! I shouted, hoping he wouldnt lose his nerve; also hoping a fiery death wasnt headed our way.

We ran into a large tunnel, dodging falling debris. Despite the continuous rumbling, Nyx kept moving. As we proceeded deeper into the tunnel, the ground sloped downwards and it felt noticeably cooler.

The tunnel we were in opened into a large cavern, the walls of which were out of reach of my light.

Which way now? I said.

Nyx didnt move. I Im not sure.

I increased the brightness of my light and sent it upwards to better illuminate the area, and quickly wished I hadnt. On the opposite side of the cavern was a small army of fully armoured rat soldiers standing in formation in front of a huge tunnel opening.

That way, said Nyx, indicating the tunnel behind the army.

A huge rat made its way through the ranks, his armour shining brilliantly. He stopped in front of Nyx. Next to the giant rat was a smaller rat in a hooded robe, carrying a wooden staff. I noticed the small rocks falling from above us bounced off some invisible shield surrounding them.

Nyx, he bellowed. You have angered our ancestors.

Erm, hello father, said Nyx quietly. Didnt think Id see you here.

And who is this frog magician with you?

All eyes turned to me.

Wait, my lord, said the hooded rat beside him. It is he the one we have been searching for. The King Killer.

There was only one kings death I had caused, and probably deserved to be punished for. Were mice and rats related? Did they get on? Maybe they wanted to thank me for getting rid of a rival.

Take him, said the big rat. He will be judged in Ratopolis.