Monkey Moon, Part 2
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 71765
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Fred raced through the bowels of the untamed Shreken like a shapeless
shadow, his every footfall muted even in the oppressive silence that imbued
the stale, frigid air. The laughter
that met his ears seemed out of place, like a jest spoke in the midst of a
sacred rite. It was blasphemous. The torch he had abandoned. His eyes seemed amazingly adjusted to his new surroundings without it. His every sense seemed heightened. He felt inhuman. It was exhilarating. He was no fool, however. Something was awry – and he began to feel a sense of guilt for not pressing the necromancer for more answers. The air grew colder. The laughter grew nearer.
Months earlier... The walls in the Great Hall of Mollari Keep were carefully tiled in deep amethyst, broken up by heavy, blue curtains on the windows. An unseasonable gust of wind swept through one of the open windows, stirring the curtains and sending a chill into the air that seemed to blight the soul. “You mean you’re actually going on this fool’s errand!” the contemptuous Duke Zular laughed through a mouthful of half-chewed filet mignon. “Come, you are a tedious fool, Lord Frederigo. The Shreken is a dog hole, and it no more merits the tread of a man's foot. The common people swarm like summer flies there, and their plight is of little concern to me. Let the drake steal their virgins and burn their fields! And the King!? He's the most notable of cowards, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise breaker, the owner of not one good quality! And the Queen? She's the kitchen wench. An overgreat whore and all grease; what use to put her but to make a torch of her and run her from her own light down in that abysmal den of Minestus? I warrant, her rags and the tallow in them will burn a Three Kingdom’s winter. If she lives till doomsday, she'll burn a week longer than the whole world! BWUHAHAHAHAHA!!”Fred, his eyes like steely daggers, glared across the table at the young, conniving Duke. Phlegm and spittle flew from the Duke's mouth as he continued his derisive snickering – the tartness of which could sour ripe grapes or turn wine to vinegar. The man spoke too many words, and had far too little to say. They were both of the same age, but while Fred had become a trusted figurehead in the Great Kingdom through brawn and honor, Zular had rose through the ranks of power with treachery and deceit. But as is so often the case with men of Zular’s mold, the power he wielded was considerable, and even at such a young age, he was easily one of the most powerful men in Allaria. Fred had half a mind to remove his head from his shoulders, but the sad fact was he needed the pompous lout. Instead he answered flatly, “I go because my King and country need me. I go because I know in my heart it is the task I have prepared for my entire life. I will make the scaly beast rue the day it ever hatched from whatever vile egg it’s mother lay in the dark of time.” Sipping from his wineglass, Zular rolled his eyes in petty disinterest. “More of your conversation would infect my brain,” he drawled. “Lets meet as little as we can from now on. How does that tickle your nipples, o dragonslayer? HA!”“Believe me, nothing would suit me better,” Fred said sharply. “You are a waspish miscreant, and nothing more.” “If I be waspish, best beware my sting. Why do I suffer you in my own Hall? Do remind me...”Fred grew desperate. “Please, Zular. The potions, just give me the damn potions. I have paid more than a fair price for them.” Zular shrugged. “Take them and begone.”Fred shook his head again. The laughter grew stronger still. He rested beside a stalagmite, and peered ahead into a square chamber hewn from the very earth - a dwarfish design, obviously. Several torches were mounted on the walls of the chamber, flickering ominously. On one wall, boxes of supplies were stacked to the high ceiling. On the opposing wall the arch of an artificial doorway was discernable. There were three figures huddled around something or someone...two were bearded cave dwarves, he smelt them before he saw them...the other was... Fred shivered. A lizardman, or Sscythrantii as they called themselves in their vulgar tongue. A loathsome race that kept to the fens and swamps and sometimes...the caves. Their bite was venomous and their sense of smell keen. He had fought one before, and slain it. But not before the creature had bite him. The next few weeks had been a blur of pain and agony, and only by the able hands of his sage companion, Cal, had he pulled through. Again, he felt a poignant sense of anguish wash over him. Cal had been an invaluable companion and friend.The creature was larger than most, and sported two insectile wings that it kept tucked away when not in use. It’s glowing eyes were like two setting suns, and it’s bright green scales were streaked with bands of red, like a tiger’s stripes, and were a clear marker of it’s venomous nature. Though it wore no artificial armor, it wielded a cudgel the size of a man. Fred crept in closer, and was horrified at what he saw. The reptilian monster was raping what appeared to be a young human woman, while the two dwarves watched in delight. It's insidious sexual organs were elongated and glistening as it pumped it's hips back and forth like an automaton. The sounds of her screams were drowned out by the laughter of the dwarves.Seeing no other course of action, Fred...
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12/4/2007 9:53:36 PM
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