Realm of Monsters

The sun was beginning to settle as the Singing Willow’s caravan halted to a stop for the day. A cool breeze blew past the Valley’s hills and plains and swept through the caravan’s encampment.

Stryg stretched his short limbs and yawned. The last two weeks had been longer than he had expected. The first week had been spent inside his tavern room. All he had to eat was fresh bread and some water. Loh believed she was punishing him by grounding him and feeding him simple food.

While the circumstances were not ideal, even a tad annoying, Stryg did not really see it as a punishment. Being stuck in his room without fresh air was a pain, but he did manage to have some alone time to train his sylvan kata and meditate.

As for the food, Stryg had grown up eating far simpler sustenance. His war-like people were accustomed to tough food and although he much preferred delicious lamb chops, he was still more than happy to eat fresh-baked bread.

The only part of his punishment that truly bugged him was the fact that he was unable to spend much time with Rhian. She seemed to share his sentiment if the second week’s constant chatter was any indication.

The second week had started off interesting. They had finally left Mellow Bloom and began traveling with the Singing Willow troupe. It was his first time joining a caravan.

Stryg had spent much of the time studying each of the wagons the troupe used. He did not understand how they managed to stuff so much stage equipment and props into the tiny wagons and still have space for themselves.

The captain had said it all had to do with one’s skill as a traveler. The more one traveled, the more they learned how to stash objects into the nooks and crannies of a wagon. Rhian had told him that the captain was simply describing to him the tricks of a smuggler. The captain had proudly said she was one of the best. When Stryg asked her if she was referring to being a traveler or smuggler she refused to answer, only giving him a wink.

Despite the weird antics of the captain and Loh’s continuous failings to sleep with her, Stryg thought the journey to Hollow Shade had been fairly peaceful. They had spent the days leisurely traveling through the Valley while talking with many of the actors. Rhian especially loved conversing with the actress who had played the adult character of Lady Gale I.

Stryg spent his time talking with the purple magi who worked behind the scenes. He tried to learn as much as he could from their spell casting and meditation methods. While he did not know much regarding the actual casting of purple magic, he thought it was still a great chance to gain a better foundation for the chromatic color.

“Finally, we’re done walking,” Rhian rolled her shoulder blades and twisted her torso.

“I thought you liked walking,” Stryg said from the saddle.

“No, I like running, there’s a difference. I like running on tracks especially, where the ground itself is made for running. What centaur in their right mind would like to walk on grass?”

“Every centaur,” Maximus said as he trotted up to them.

“I just said I don’t like walking on grass,” Rhian frowned.

“My point exactly,” Maximus walked away.

“Hey, what are you trying to imply? Oi! Get back here!” Rhian yelled.

Stryg jumped off her back and made his way through the caravan. He stepped past the men and women of the troupe who were beginning to unpack tonight’s camping equipment. Instead, he made his way to the cook’s wagon.

Stryg found the head-cook unloading a large crate from the wagon, his arms were shaking from the effort.

“Let me help with that.” Stryg stepped under the crate and placed his hands on the bottom.

“Oh, Stryg, hello. You’re earlier than usual. You don’t have to worry about this, it’s really heavy. It’s hard enough for me and you’re much smaller than me.”

“I’m gonna ignore that.” Stryg hopped and pushed the box up and out of the head-cook’s grasp. Stryg landed with a soft thud and carried the box away.

“Damn, you’re just full of surprises,” he whistled.

“The more stuff you have to carry the longer it takes you to cook our dinner and the longer it takes for me to eat that dinner,” Stryg said.

“I hear ya, I’ll start cooking right away,” he laughed.

The head-cook walked over to a small opening where a few piles of wood had been stacked.

“If you’ll do the honors,” he gestured at the goblin.

Stryg raised his hand and concentrated. A small wisp of flame streamlined from his palm to a small crevice just beneath the logs. The wood ignited in an instant, the soft scent of charcoal coloring the air.

Stryg smiled inwardly, he was finally getting a hang of small precise flame spells. The head-cook thanked him and began to set his pot over the fire. Stryg walked around the campsite and lit a few more fire pits. Some of the fires were for the cooks and the rest were simply for the enjoyment of the troupe.

As night settled, everyone lined up for dinner. Captain always got her food first, but the head-cook always made sure to serve Stryg an extra portion as thanks for his help. Once the food was served the troupe divided into smaller groups and gathered around their own campfires.

Stryg found his spot near Rhian. He sat next to her and rested his back on her lower torso, the sound of her heartbeat had become soothing to his ears the past few months. The actress who played Gale was also at their campfire, chatting with Rhian.

Loh had eaten her food and was making her way through her second bottle of wine, all while trying to do her evening meditation. She had suggested Stryg meditate as well, but he found it difficult to meditate with so many stimuli influencing his senses.

Maximus preferred to eat alone, but Loh had insisted he eat with them, and so they made a compromise. The enormous battle centaur sat on the other side of their campfire by himself.

The captain appeared after a few minutes, “Mind if I join you all?”

“I’d be honored,” the actress bowed her head.

“The more the merrier,” Rhian smiled.

Stryg stayed quiet. Loh cracked an eye open. Maximus was too busy eating his stew to be bothered.

“I hope you’ve enjoyed your stay with the Singing Willow,” the captain sat next to Stryg.

“I have, it’s been very informative,” Stryg nodded.

“Wonderful. You’ve been quite informative too, if I might add. All those stories of Vulture Woods you told me about have been marvelous. I think I have the beginning workings of my next play.”

“I must say having a real sylvan goblin in our midsts has been so exciting,” the actress added with a cheery voice.

“Yes, I hear some of the women have begun to wake up especially early to see Stryg train shirtless,” the captain raised an eyebrow.

The actress blushed and looked away.

“I’ve noticed, but it’s foolish. They won’t be able to copy my techniques just by looking at my kata, it’s much more complicated than that,” Stryg scratched his cheek.

The captain stared at him for a moment before she burst out in laughter, “That’s why I like you, Stryg. Your senses pick up on so much, yet you turn a blind eye anyway.”

“What?” Stryg tilted his head.

Rhian covered her mouth, “You’re mistaken, Captain. My Master can be a tad dense when it comes to understanding how women might actually like him, or friends for that matter, or just people… well, he might be more than a tad dense.”

“I will bite you,” Stryg warned.

“Ha, you already bit me today,” Rhian stuck out her tongue.

“I’ll bite you again.”

“Wha-? But, you already bit me. That’s not fair…” Rhian frowned.

“Since when has anything been fair?” Stryg asked.

Maximus glanced at Rhian’s panicked face. “Idiot,” he muttered.

“I think Stryg’s teething,” Loh chuckled.

“As much as I’d like to see somebody maul a centaur I’d much rather hear a story,” the captain interjected.

“Great idea!” Rhian said.

“Fantastic and since tonight is our last night together why don’t we make this interesting,” the captain pulled out a gold coin. “Whoever tells the most interesting story will win a shiny prize.”

“Oooh, this sounds fun,” the actress clapped.

“Wait, Master, if I win can I keep the coin? Or does it go to the tribe?” Rhian asked.

“To you obviously, you’re the one who won it,” Stryg shook his head.

“Alright! Let’s do this!” Rhian made a fist bump in the air.

Loh closed her eyes. She couldn't care less about a single coin.

“So, who will begin our evening’s adventure?” The captain glanced around the campfire.

“I’d like to,” the actress raised her hand.

The captain nodded in assent.

The actress cleared her throat, “Okay, as you all know I am a vampiress who plays the role of one of the most famous vampires in all of history, Lady Gale I.”

“This is boring,” Maximus called out.

The actress glared at him. She smoothed her features and continued, “But, tonight I want to tell the story of one the most famous living vampires, Lady Calantha Ashe.”

“Who?” Stryg asked.

“She’s the leader of House Ashe and the high priestess of Hollow Shade,” Rhian whispered.

“Oh, I sa-”

“No, interrupting,” the actress frowned.

“She’s right,” the captain put a finger to her lips.

Stryg reluctantly closed his mouth. He didn’t recall her name, but he did remember seeing the high priestess during the Festival of the Gods.

“As I was saying,” the actress cleared her throat. “House Ashe is the most famous of the Great Houses among the common folk of Dusk Valley. We all know they are incredibly devout to the ebon gods and have invested into the prosperity of our religion throughout the land.”

“Still boring,” Maximus said.

“I’m getting to it!” The actress closed her eyes and took a deep breath, “Anyways, like many Houses, the Ashes have always been very religious. But, how many Houses were touched by the gods themselves?”

“Are we supposed to answer that? Because I thought we weren’t supposed to speak,” Stryg said.

“Ugh, forget it. Moving on,” the actress grumbled. “When Lady Calantha was born she struggled to breathe. Her fangs had yet to grow in, which is a bad sign for any infant vampire. The doctors and healers tried everything to help baby Calantha, but nothing helped.”

“As the days went by, Calantha’s health deteriorated. Her parents prayed to Bellum, patron goddess of vampires, to heal their child. Yet, Calantha still continued to grow more sickly. Nonetheless, her parents did not give up hope in their goddess. They prayed to her diligently.”

“One evening, news came from a messenger. He carried a letter stating that there was a healer staying in Undergrowth who could possibly help Calantha. Her parents were ecstatic, their prayers had been answered. They didn’t care that the journey to Undergrowth was long, nor that Hollow Shade had a tenuous relation with her sister Great City. So long as Calantha lived no hardship was too great.”

“The Ashes grabbed their baby daughter and assembled their carriage and a small retinue as quickly as possible. They rushed out that same evening. They traveled without rest, switching between steeds throughout day and night.”

“When they finally reached the Glimmer Grove forest everyone was exhausted. Even baby Calantha had grown weaker, her shallow breaths were barely audible. Still, the family persevered on their journey. Suddenly, arrows flew through the trees.”

“The Ashe's guards were taken down in a matter of seconds. To their dismay, they realized that they had been tricked. The messenger had been part of an intricate plan to ambush Lord Ashe. His anger flared to life, he flew out of the carriage in a rage of death and fury.”

“Enemy after enemy fell to his magic and fangs, yet more kept coming. Lady Ashe came out of the carriage to aid her husband. Calantha rested in her arms as she casted ward spells all around the family. When they began to finally overtake the enemy, a drow archmage appeared from among the trees.”

“The archmage overwhelmed Lord Ashe and struck him to the ground. His wife tried protecting him with her ward spells, but it was not enough. The archmage destroyed her defenses easily. She looked around in despair, dozens of enemies began to enclose on them. Baby Calantha cried in her arms.”

“Lady Ashe couldn’t help but cry as well, hope for her daughter vanishing before her very eyes. She begged Bellum to save them. Suddenly, the wind died. The forest grew quiet. Hundreds of silhouettes swept through the underbrush and cut down the enemy soldiers in seconds.”

“The enemy screamed in fear as one by one they were slaughtered by the cloaked warriors. Lady Ashe’s tears became tears of joy. The Ebon Order, the mythical army of Bellum, had arrived.”

“Yet the archmage refused to surrender. He raised his hands, lightning crackling above him. A giant shadow flew down from the trees. Her dark helmet shrouded her face, yet the ebon flames burning on her blade were unmistakable. The archmage cowered in fear in front of Bellum, goddess of war.”