Chapter 245: Battle of Five Armies (2)

Chapter 245: Battle of Five Armies (2)

I headed for the door without really knowing where I was going. Fights this way, is it?

The whole room was staring at me.

Are you feeling alright? asked Claire. Not in a Can I help you? way, more of an Is it contagious? while backing away manner.

Im fine. Untouchable.

It was hard to know how to explain it to them. Or even if i should. To be honest, I didnt understand it all that well, myself. I could access an alien landscape that looked like some tentacle hentai fans wet dream and float about like Peter Pan. Oh, really, Colin? And what do all these tentacles do? I have absolutely no idea.

Would they all rush to follow me into battle? Probably not. Better to just go Big Dick Mode and style it out.

Dont worry, I said. Ive finally figured out what my special ability is. We got this. No problemo. I gave them a thumbs up, which only seemed to increase their concern.

Yes, I was overselling it a bit. I didnt actually have a fully formed idea how to deal with the elf, but I felt better for having discovered I had an ability, even if I hadnt worked out how to use it properly. Yet. But the potential was huge. nove(l)bi(n.)com

It could easily be one of those powers where the possessor becomes so powerful, they lose touch with their own humanity and stop valuing human life altogether. It was the perfect ability for meI was halfway there already!

Come to think of it, I didnt even know how to reaccess Tentacle World. Id used one dwarfstone to kick myself out of my body, so assuming that would work again, I presumably had two more shots with the dwarfstones I had left.

What is it? asked Jenny.

I realised I was standing in the doorway, lost in thought. The stares were getting more intense. And most intense was Peters. His usual air of smug condescension had left him for once, and he looked mildly worried.

Peter. I pointed at him. We should talk. You probably have your own plans, right? Thats good, we should coordinate. I walked back into the room and sat down at the table. So, whats the 411? I put my head on the table and I was out like a light.

It was only when I woke up an hour or so later that it dawned on me how hyper Id been. Apparently travelling between planes was a stimulant. I was so jumped up and full of beans I had been ready to take on the elf there and then, no plan, no ideas. Hell, Id been ready to take on the world. Overconfidence can also be a fast and straightforward killer.

Bright sunlight slanted in through the windows, blinding me for a moment. The others were sat around, napping. Jenny was beside me, head resting on her arms, drool dripping onto the table. Whats not to love?

It took me a few seconds to spot Uncle Pete sitting opposite me, twirling the spike in his hand. He didnt look menacing or sinister, which was odd because he most certainly was both those things.

I really believed this would be the answer to my prayers, he said in a low voice. He was considerately trying not to wake the others. He placed the spike on the table and slid it across towards me.

You know what it does? I asked him.

I do now. My lovely daughter was only too happy to inform me.

Biadet? Is she your actual daughter?

No, not biologically. We cant have children; the elf took care of that the moment she took the throne of Requbar. A clever move, I have to give her that. No, Biadet is my adopted daughter and my greatest creation. At least thats how I like to think of her. She might disagree. Her mothers the same. Loves to hold a grudge.

I was still a bit groggy, but I sensed some pieces falling into place. You and Queen Zarigold were an item.

Yes. An item. That sums it up nicely. Peter produced a sad, thin sliver of a smile. I almost felt sorry for him but I didnt really have the machinery for it. It would be more accurate to say I recognised a situation where sympathy could be applied.

You experimented on Biadet? He seemed in a talkative mood so I decided to try for some answers.

Experimented? Such a harsh word. She would have died if I hadnt. Not that anyone thanked me. Its a heartless world, Colin. Im sure you know this already.

No argument from me there. How did the elf stop us from having children? And why?

The why is fairly straightforward, said Peter. The spires need a power source to work. The locals can provide a temporary surge but its not enough to do anything really interesting. He tapped his bottom lip with a finger. Its more of a borrowed power. Then theres us. Visitors are a true source of power and could get the spires fully operational, if there were enough of us. Only a few of us are bought here every four years, but if we were allowed to reproduce among ourselves it wouldnt be as potent, but it would be substantially more potent than the locals.

That made sense. If the elf didnt want the spires to be active, she would want to limit the availability of batteries.

As for how she did it, Im afraid I havent been able to work that out as yet. If I could just get her into the spires, under my control, I think the answers would come thick and fast. It would help, of course, if that spike actually did what it was supposed to. The threat of such a weapon would force the truth from her, but sadly it only kills dwarves. Such a waste. He shook his head. Thats Zarigolds ability. She can imbue weapons with powers, very specific powers, whatever she wishes, really. She could help me so much, but shes too bitter to see reason. Age does that to some people.

You know when someone offhandedly dismisses another persons feelings like that, there must be good reason for them being pissed off. Guaranteed.

I may not have the right tools, but you could still help me with learning the truth of what the elfs are. And I could help you in return.

And so began the dance. Help me how?

Peter leaned across the table and dropped his voice even lower. You see, kid, the gift I have, the special ability, it doesnt help me, it helps those around me. He was full-on earnest with wall to wall carpeting; the thick stuff your feet sink into. I can improve your abilities. Adapt them, evolve them, make you a far better exponent of whatever it is you have been gifted with.

If I was able to see the vines and tentacles Id seen earlier, would I see them growing out of Peter now, trying to form a bond with me? Trust. Greed. Desire. Would each have its own outstretched arm, a range of putrid colours?

If what he said was true, then I could see why he would be popular among Visitors. Who wouldnt want an upgrade on their special ability? But I somehow doubted the service would come free of charge or without a catch. He would find a way to retain control. Maybe even leech off the power he had turbocharged. Or soup it up, then threaten to take it away. Your own army of super-idiots to do whatever you commanded, or its back to being a pleb.

Admittedly, I was speculating without any evidence, but when had that ever stopped me from being right?

But Im untouchable, I said. You cant help me if you cant reach me? Cant fuck with me, either.

Dont tell him anything, said Evand.

The Elf Lords. They left her because she was the only female and they considered her expendable. The spires need to be fully charged to summon them back and she was meant to be the fuel to light their fire.

Peter had mentioned two methods of charging the spires, locals and Visitors, but not this one. I was guessing using an elf was the correct way to get them up to full speed.

Quiet! screamed Evand.

So, they left her here so she could be used to power up the spires? I said, eager to keep them bickering and revealing more information. Would that kill her?

Of course it would, said the other dwarf.

These Elf Lords sound like a bunch of dicks, I said. Why are you so keen to see them return, Evand?

It is not our place to judge them. They tower over us and perform great feats. We should be grateful.

The Woody Allen defence. Separate the man from the art. A deep, philosophical question, but hard to consider seriously when all I could think of was a bunch of giant Woody Allens roaming the surface of the world like dinosaurs. Hard to take anything seriously after that.

When my Lords return, then will you truly witness the majesty of being, said Evand. I had no idea what that even meant, but I kept shtum. Valuable intel was being disseminated by these two.

When they return, they will find Hernande is no longer the ingenue they left behind.

How can they return if she destroys the spires? demanded Evand.

She does not plan to destroy them. How can you think she would do such a thing?

When are these ELf Lords due back? I asked.

Very soon, said Evand. Less than a thousand years.

Here was something I could have done with knowing earlier. All this for something that wont happen for a thousand years?

It will pass in the blink of an eye, said Evand.

At least with one threat off the table (or at the far end) I could focus on the problem in front of me. I also gave me an idea how to turn this thing around.

I held up both gems. Im guessing you werent the ones who put Hernande into her prison, but how were you supposed to control her? You must have a way to do it.

There was a pause and then Evand said, It takes all three of us working together.

That wont be happening anytime soon, said the other dwarf.

You know Ive got dwarf number three inside me, right? If I swallowed you two, would I be able to control the elf?

No! they both said together.

Sometimes when a dwarf says no, he means yes. That doesnt mean you can tell when that time is, though. Still, it was an option. A last ditch, Oh no, were all going to die, kind of option.

Just remember, even if it doesnt work, I can swallow you and disconnect you from the gem. That means a lifetime stuck in my head. Believe me, you wouldnt like it.

Neither said anything, but it felt like both gems shuddered in my hands. I put them away and took in the view. Beneath us were thousands of troops marching in square formation. Lizardmen and humans. Fengarad and Dargot standards raised.

Vikchutni circled the elf who took no notice, and Bertie followed like a puppy after a tennis ball. On the other side, an army from Requbar approached with a familiar figure at its head. Sonny had decided to get his revenge and had somehow convinced the survivors of Requbar to join him. As much of an ass as he was, you couldnt deny his ability to bullshit his way into the affections of men. And I dont mean that in a gay way, he just appealed to bros in a way I never could.

Flossie brought us down just ahead of the Fengarad forces and me and Bertie came to a rather abrupt halt nearby, took off again, tumbled over a hedge and went our separate ways in the next field. Bertie needed to work on those landings.

There was an army waiting for my orders and I had nothing to tell them. I decided I might as well get this over with. I took out the two gemstones and ate Evand.

A moment later I was in my head with young me and dwarf number one.

Hold on, I said. Back in a mo. I exited my body, wooden sword in hand, and sliced off the tube growing out of my back. That took care of dwarf number two. Then I floated up towards the elf, but I was immediately struck by what the world had turned into.

It had been strange enough seeing all the vines growing in the room back in Fengarad. Outside with nothing to impede my view, I could see for miles. And for miles, there was nothing but a world full of tentacles.

Everything was connected to everything else. As I rose higher and higher, I could see the vines spreading out and up and in every which way. It was a total mind fuck. No way could I make sense of this, it was too much to take in. I focused on the elf.

She was frozen just like everything else. Hundreds of vines grew out of her. There were so many of them, they covered her like a suit of armour. I tried to cut them with the sword, but so they were so big and thick the sword only made the slightest nick that quickly healed over.

I got all the way to the head, which suddenly moved to look at me with eyes made of dark clouds getting darker.

You are too late, she said with a voice like a howling wind. The victory will be mine.

She had a good point, which left me with only one option, as far as I could see.

I agree, I said. We surrender.