Chapter 62

Day 250:

After another time-passing instant, John found himself standing under a giant opening in the Pyramid’s base. Himself and four other individuals were spread apart beneath the stone-bordered rectangle, which was more than fifteen feet tall and twenty wide. A line of tents stretched in both directions along the Pyramid’s base, all the way to both corners. Across a wide lane of hard-packed sand from the shelters was a line of six-feet-thick sandstone columns, spaced ten feet apart and topped at the same height as their current position. Carved into each pylon at chest level was a giant hand print, dyed sky blue. And in front of every pillar was a rug or blanket on the ground, with an awning or fabric umbrella for shade. Occupying about one spot in five was a dark blue Djinn, sitting with crossed legs or lying down asleep.

Dulgan and Adam made their way over to John, along with a unique third person. The remaining one was a coal-skinned Nomad who studied the group for several moments too long, but darted off when John gave him the stink-eye.

“C’n we ‘elp ya?” Dulgan asked as the unusual man moved to join them.

This personage was from a Race John had yet to come across. A midnight-blue, wavy mane of metallic-seeming hair framed an angularly-attractive face. Structure-less black eyes regarded them calmly from underneath the strangest eyebrows. It was as though someone had cut a black feather in half along the spine, and glued each part above one eye socket. He was clean-shaven, a sight John now found so odd he unconsciously stroked his own unkempt facial hair.

But it was the armor which clued John in. A full suit of dull black plate armor encased this new arrival from neck to feet. This close, without the dragon’s hazy barrier between them, John’s impression that its dented, scratched material was fauna- rather than mineral-based rose to near certainty. The cuirass now bore a dragon’s head motif, and a sheathed longsword hung at his shoulder from a strap across his chest. His weapon’s scabbard and two-handed hilt were both wrapped in a worn, graying, scaly hide. Its cross-guard and pommel were made from a dark-colored metal: a thin, flat bar and an unadorned teardrop, respectively. A thick, gray cloak hung across his shoulders, with the hood down and resting atop the heater shield slung on his back, between the sword and the garment.

“Vorigan?” John ventured, in shock.

“My patron wishes me to leave my former name behind, along with my life.” The no-longer-Vampyr announced. “As I am reborn in this form, she has given me a new one. Please call me Ar-i-el now.”

John snorted involuntarily while Adam laughed out loud, prompting a thunderous frown to cross Ariel’s features.

“Why do you mock me so?” He demanded.

“I’m sorry.” John waved his hands in a placating motion. “On our world, there is a well-known young Mer-woman who sings with that name. You obviously couldn’t look more different from her if you tried, so it sounded funny coming from you. We meant no offense, right?”

Adam nodded, getting himself back under control. “I also apologize. We’re just so surprised by how you look. It took me off guard. What happened to you?”

Ariel tossed a meaningful glance at John. “I have been transformed. No longer am I Vampyr, nor a Death Knight.” A ‘I just-remembered-something’ look flashed. “I must send word to my former master, as soon as I can.”

John snapped his fingers. “What about Xenos?”

“When I changed, my hold over him disappeared.” Ariel shook his head sadly. “The master of this place would not tell me what he chose, but I know he would not refuse an opportunity to Challenge the Labyrinth.”

“Damn. She could be anywhere!” John grumped.

“We will find another way.” Ariel assured him calmly.

“Does that mean you have to go back to Blackwater, then?” John asked.

Ariel shook his head, staring intently at John.

“There is something I must do, but I d—o...”

“John? John!” A female voice called.

The four turned as a white-robed woman slammed into John’s embrace.

“You made it!” Veronyka grinned happily.

She wrapped her body around his, kissing him deeply. Dulgan shifted uncomfortably while Ariel looked amused.

“Doctor Krasnov?” Adam asked in English.

He had to repeat the question several times before she disengaged (but didn’t let go of John) to turn her attention toward the SEAL.

“Yes?” She returned brightly, then scowled in confusion. “Do I know you?”

Adam shook his head, smiling. “We’ve never met. I’m Chief Petty Officer Brown, ma’am. It’s good to see that you’re all right.”

“Thank you, Chief Brown.” She smiled. “What’s a Navy enlisted man doing here? How’d you hook up with John?”

“He’s, uh part of an elite SEAL unit. We’ve known each other for a long time.” John whispered.

Adam nodded a confirmation. “They asked me to let them put one of the implants you made into my head. For John, I’d say yes every day, and twice on Sunday. Just don’t tell him that.”

Veronyka laughed. “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me. But I’ve been trying to track him down for months. How’d you catch up with him?”

Adam laughed back. “By accident! Last we knew was that he’d finished things up where it’s cold, so when I came over, I wanted to pick something to be that would enter in a warmer place. No way to get more accurate than that until I’m here, right? Plus, I knew he was totally afraid of water, so I picked a desert race. Ran into him on my first day. Totally random. What’re the odds?”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Astronomical! When was that?”

“Only a few weeks ago.” Adam assured her. “Then we got into a fight with some giant ugly fucker. Oops, ‘scuse me, monster. They kicked us out of town after that, so we came here.”

“A fight?” She glanced at John. “Say it isn’t so.”

John’s head wiggled back and forth. “Uh, well he’s kinda chasing me, and now Vo—Ariel here. Or, well maybe not him anymore, but anyway his boss is a seriously bad-ass dude who hates me.”

“John.” She turned to face him, keeping her hand in his. “What did you do?”

“Refused to work for him.” John replied calmly. “Oh, and killed a bunch of his soldiers when they ambushed some Dwarves in a really shitty way.”

He pointed at Dulgan while talking. The Dwimar bowed deeply, a strange grin plastered across his features.

“War Maiden from the North, I greet you.” He said. “My friend John has spoken of you many times, and I see that his description of your beauty is not exaggerated.”

“That’s Dulgan.” John introduced.

“Dulgan, I’m glad to make your acquaintance.” She smiled. “Were you one of the Dwarves involved?”

“Involved in what?” Dulgan asked.

“Oh, sorry. The ambush that John had to kill some soldiers to stop.” She explained.

“Nah, I was no’.” Dulgan replied. “I ‘eard ‘bout it though. Had’ta see for myself.”

“He found me after I escaped from that King’s army.” John added.

“King? The guy you pissed off is a King? Of what?” She wanted to know.

“King Morgan o’ the Wall.” Dulgan replied. “Accordin’ ta John ‘ere, ee’s e’en more powerful than before. We los’ many a Dwarf to ‘is lackeys, the Vampyr and the half-Orc.”

“Wait, hold on.” She made a ‘T’ sign with her hands. “I need to take you to meet up with the others, then you can explain the whole thing. It sounds like something they should hear too. C’mon.”

“Wait.” John kept ahold of her hand, preventing her from walking away. “Where’s the nearest portal stone? A real one, not the ones to get into the Labyrinth. Adam and I should both stop by, and soon.”

“It’s on the way.” She promised, tugging and looking around. “I don’t like the looks of some others I’ve seen hanging around lately.”

“Hanging around what?” John asked as the four companions followed her.

“Me. Us.” She waved a finger. “Once we figured out that you exit the Pyramid on the side you entered, we started taking shifts keeping an eye on the exit here, as well as anything coming in through the Porters.”

“How’d you know to look for me there?” John wondered.

“Got a little ‘inside info’,” she dodged, “that you’d be coming this way. I knew no way you’d pass up the Labyrinth. You did pass, right?”

John’s hand took in all four of them. “We all did.”

“I’m still not sure I believe it.” Adam commented.

“Fast healing?” She guessed.

“Of course!” Adam gushed. “I don’t really want to be a guinea pig, but it sounds great!”

“And who’s our silent fourth, tagging along?” She gave Ariel a smile too.

“I am Ariel.” Ariel answered. “Newly reborn Paladin of Zhulang. I too am pleased to greet you this day.”

“‘Newly reborn’?” She glanced at John.

But he pointed back. “It’s his story to tell, not mine.”

“Wow, you guys have had a lot happen since you left.” She shook her head in disbelief.

“You don’t know the half of it.” John promised. “But I’ll tell you. Who all’s here?”

She shot her eyes at Adam too quickly for the SEAL to notice. “Pretty much everyone. I’ll let you make the introductions when we get there.”

They were taking the path between the tents and the stone pillars, heading for the Pyramid’s southeast corner. As they walked, John noticed that few of the tents were occupied, but all looked well kept-up.

“Not a lot of people here.” John commented.

“Pretty much everyone is up at the College Forum during the day.” She told them. “These tents are the farthest away, so their owners or residents won’t get back until sundown.”

“College Forum?” Adam piped up.

Veronyka launched into an explanation. “Yeah, everything outside the Pyramid itself is run by Kyet’sol’s Boon. The Boon Hierarch lives and hosts visiting members who return from traveling, and those seeking more healing knowledge at the Forum for Learning on the north side of the Pyramid. He’s the guy who decides which tent you get, so you can tell who’s more important by how close to the Forum they’re living. Also, be aware that the Boon has a squad of guards who patrol the road here. Stay out of their way, or they’ll get you tossed.”

She pointed at the stone pillars.

“The Porters each get five ‘exit portals’ to run, and only the assigned one can use them. You have to pay them money to open the way, with the catch being that the more you give, the farther they’ll send you. But only in a straight line from the Pyramid, running through the gap, extending out into the desert.” She shrugged. “From what I understand, the closest you can get to any city is a day away. So, if you want to go to Fruitful Valley, or Sanctuary Canyon, you need to know which direction they are from here, and pay the correct Porter for the trip.”

“And the money goes... ?” John trailed off.

“Split between the Porter, and the Boon of course.” Veronyka answered. “I don’t know the split if you’re looking for work.”

“With my luck, the first customer would be Xenos.” John said sarcastically. “I’m guessing they frown on killing your patrons?”

“Who’s that?” She asked.

“The Vampyr we captured, after she captured us. She’s free now, and really, really doesn’t like Ariel, here. Or me for that manner. Watch out too, she used to be one of the project subjects. When Xenos took over her body, it came with a lot of memories. Including about Earth, and how to speak English.” John warned.

Veronyka jerked to a halt. “What? Who did she use to be?”

John shrugged. “She never told me. I only know her Vamp name: Xenos.”

“I wonder if it was Caroline.” Veronyka mused. “We always did wonder what happened to her.”

“Could be.” John offered. “It’s whoever’s body, so if you see a woman you recognize, be careful. She’s got claws that paralyze you if you get scratched by them. That’s how she took out my whole team.”

She laughed sadly. “Your ‘whole team’? Oh John, I’m really sorry. How did you come to have a ‘whole team’ anyway?”

John pointed at Dulgan. “It’s all his fault.”

“My faul’?” The Dwarf looked offended. “They wanted ta serve ya no’ me!”

“Yeah, but who told everyone about me?” John retorted, smiling.

“Ah, I do ‘ave a habit o’ talkin’ lots.” Dulgan admitted, chagrined.

Veronyka leaned over and gave Dulgan a hug, which the Dwarf returned awkwardly.

“I’m sorry about your friends.” She whispered.

“Thank ya, Maiden.” Dulgan said. “I know John an’ I’ll be avengin’ ‘em.”

“Is that?” John pointed, distracting everyone.

Right at the southeast corner of the Pyramid, there was a break in the columns. A few yards outside the pillars’ line, in that space stood a portal stone. It was coated in a thick layer of fine, tan dust but otherwise identical to any others they’d seen.

“Yes.” Veronyka answered. “Go check it out.”

All John needed to do was step onto the platform, so he could return.

“They want me to come back.” Adam said, as John stepped off. “Take a day to rest. Get looked at by the doc, that whole thing.”

“Right now?” John asked.

“No time like the present.” Adam quipped. “You saw how quickly we got kicked out of the last town. This time we know there’s someone nearby that wants to do bad things to us. You. Whatever.”

“I’m glad our route out went by the one there, so I could put it on my list.” John remarked.