Chapter 42 – Tougher Than it Looks

  “This is the place,” Savgar called over his shoulder to Victor and Bryant.

  “This place?” Bryant asked. “You’re sure?”

  “Dude,” Victor said. “Don’t piss off the dwarf.”

  “I said this is the place, so this is the place,” Savgar growled back.

  “But it’s a wall?” Bryant said. They were back in Kharzast. Savgar had led them back into the city looking for the best place to begin working on their new exit. Admittedly, Victor was expecting they would go back to the goblin camp and begin working from there. They had to have a way back to the surface. But instead, Savgar had led them to a random spot along the city wall.

  “It won’t be soon enough,” Savgar said. “We’ll turn this city wall into a city gate by breaking straight through here.”

  “How?” Bryant asked, getting another glare from the dwarf.

  “Dude,” Victor said again.

  “I’m not trying to be difficult,” Bryant said. “But based on what I’ve seen of this place, they knew what they were doing, and I don’t think they would have made a wall that people could just break down with what, a couple of bone shovels and picks? Don’t get me wrong, they look like really nice tools, but they are still just bone, right?”

  Bryant was indicating the tools Savgar had fastened for them. The plan originally was to find a forge somewhere in the city and try and use that to make some equipment. But after spending another day searching the city, they were unable to locate one. So instead, Savgar had made use of the little material they had and crafted some simple shovels from the bones of the beast they had hunted.

  “No one better ever hear a word about those tools,” Savgar growled. “Once this job is done, we will destroy them and never speak of them again. But no, you leave the wall to me and Thurg. I’ll smash a hole through it and then it will be on you two to excavate the tunnel. Straight through. Quickest and most direct path south, and nothing that should get in our way between here and the surface.”

  “Your Earth Sense is working again?” Victor asked.

  “Ever since I took the Trial,” Savgar grunted. “Nothing blocking me now”

  Savgar swung his hammer into the wall causing cracks to appear in the marble. A moment later, the cracks repaired themselves leaving no trace that the dwarf had done anything to it at all.

  Bryant whistled. “We could have used something like that back on Earth.”

  “Is it going to be a problem?” Victor asked.

  “Not sure,” Savgar said. “But we will see what it makes of a real dwarven swing.”

  He took a fighting stance and swung again. He slammed Thurg into the wall pushing every ounce of strength he could bring to bear down on the strike. Several cracks appeared again, ripping through the wall like an earthquake on the marble. They lasted for a few seconds, before repairing to its undamaged state once again.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “On second thought,” Savgar muttered. “This might be more difficult than I had thought.”

  *~*

  Elizabeth exited the Trial with nothing more than what she had entered with. She wanted to keep the armor and weapon, but Arbour informed her they wouldn’t be able to leave the Trial. She had tried anyways, but the moment she crossed the threshold they had disappeared. It wasn’t all for nought though. She had gained several new skills, some levels, a support class and most importantly she was now staring down at her newly regrown hand.

  Reuf had worked with her tirelessly in the hopes of doing what one skill had done in just a few days. She kept opening and closing it as though to convince herself it was real and wouldn’t disappear as the armor had.

  As she walked back to the others, she kept her Battle Meditation active. She wasn’t expecting any real need for it, but it helped to calm her nerves and made her feel at peace. For the first time since she had come to this new world, she was starting to feel, not quite calm exactly, but maybe less anxious? She was starting to think that she might be able to do more than just survive here. Even back on Earth, she didn’t remember ever feeling that way.

  Elaine saw her first as she returned to the Candidates’ quarters. Elizabeth tensed upon seeing her. She knew that she wouldn’t have approved of what she had done and was preparing to be yelled at. But no yelling came. Instead, Elaine rushed over to her and swept her into a hug.

  “We were so worried,” Elaine muttered. “Why?”

  “I just had to,” Elizabeth mumbled.

  “You don’t need to rush into things like this,” Elaine said. “There is plenty of time to pursue things, but you only get one life.”

  “I know,” Elizabeth murmured against Elaine chest.

  “Are you hungry?” Elaine asked. “There is some food leftover. Wait… Your hand!”

  “Yes, and yes,” Elizabeth said showing Elaine her new hand. “Jack never told me one of the skills would be–“ Elizabeth’s words caught in her throat before she was able to form them. Confused, she tried again, but still nothing came out.

  “I haven’t taken the Trial yet,” Elaine said. “Part of the contract seems to be not speaking of certain parts of the Trial or Order, but I think I understand. Come, I’ll cook you some food, and you can tell us what you are able to or rest a little.”

  “How are the others?” Elizabeth asked.

  “There have been some changes,” Elaine said. “I don’t know how much you stayed for when we were going over it, but we are planning an attack on the Wenduags’ camp. Jack, Rayne, and Sylvian went topside to meet with the Southern Lord and set up a base for us.”

  “Why are we attacking the Wenduags’ camp?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Clayton captured the rest of Sylvian and Rayne’s people and is holding them like he did us,” Elaine explained. “We can’t leave them to his devices, especially now that he has the Blood Mage class.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Right now, there is plenty,” Elaine told her. “You are welcome to help out anywhere you think you can. Reuf and Daniel are working on spells, and they could probably teach you some. I’m working on making poisons, so best to stay clear for now, and Savgar, Victor and Bryant are trying to dig a tunnel to the outside. I’m certain they need help there too.”

  “What about Teresa and Sia?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Teresa has been training us in more combat skills,” Elaine said. “But when she isn’t doing that, she and Sia have been trying to improve their own. They are planning on joining Jack and the others topside once Sia finishes the Trial.”

  “Can I go train with her,” Elizabeth asked.

  Elaine stopped for a moment contemplating. “Are you sure,” she asked. “There is nothing wrong with helping with the support side and it’ll be less dangerous as well. You don’t have to prove anything to us.”

  “I know,” Elizabeth said. “But during that Trial I think I was starting to figure something out and I want to keep working at it. I want to be strong. Strong enough to stand up and take action for myself. I don’t want to feel like I’m trapped ever again.”

  Elaine sighed. “It’s up to you, but that doesn’t mean you will be fighting like that in this upcoming attack. We need more people using bows or throwing spells right now. Only a few of us will be in the melee.”

  “I can do that,” Elizabeth said excitedly. “I’ll try to learn a few spells as well.”

  “That can wait for a little bit,” Elaine said. “We’ll let Sia know the Trial is free, and you can get some sleep.”