Chapter 11
Felix Awakens
The warm soft cushion supporting Felix from below didn't diminish the ache coursing through his entire body. A gentle lavender smell mixed with rosemary and thyme attempted to comfort him. With a light cotton cover over his body and a down pillow under his head, Felix decided only to breath slower and deeper for a few moments.
To savor the moment of awakening to a second-chance in life.
Gather information without his sight deceiving him.
The murmur of a human crowd came muted through what had to be solid walls. The occasional crack and echo revealed the walls to be some sort of stone. Lacking windows, judging from lack of outside noises mixing in. Not a scream, a mutt's yelp, or a horse's neigh.
No hawkers hawking their wares either.
With a savory whiff of chicken broth reaching him too. Made his empty stomach growl. His last meal so long ago he couldn't remember it clearly. Maybe a minced meat pie or some other snack.
Maybe not.
And that was before he accounted for how long he was unconscious.
There was no question this place was underground. Likely an illegal den in normal times. A refuge in these darker times. For the soldiers of Cheramin, who probably frequented these places more often than they cared to admit, wouldn't forgive the crooks if they refused the townsfolk and then the city survived.
No one would forgive them.
The slight cotton tension over his body – Felix still wore his Paladin outfit of a navy coat, shirt, and slacks. His boots, though, no longer on his feet. Only socks.
Fresh from the dry feel of them.
The last thing he remembered – the vandread stabbing him with her red straps. Flinging him high into the air. Helpless as a ragdoll lump, he smashed through shutters built of solid oak. Cracking bone and bruising flesh.
Then recalled nothing.
“You okay, Paladin?” asked the gruff voice of a grown man. Full of concern too.
Felix opened his eyes. Beside the bed was the speaker. A giant bald guy built more like a portly brawny troll than a human. Even if his features clearly marked him as human.
His beady eyes clearly glinted with intelligence softened by compassion.
“Yeah,” said Felix, “Thanks, sir. I've had better days. But better alive than dead.”
The man chuckled. His crooked smile seemed genuine.
The small square room was made of solid stone bricks. Moisture seeping through the cracks.
Clearly, they were underground.
“Don't we all,” he said, “Friends call me Grunts. After my trusty club. Kept the hoodlums from bothering the good honest folk. Well, until today. Cracking the heads of a few lycan only seemed to encourage the vile furballs.”
Felix smiled back. Grunts clearly knew the impression he gave to others, despite his more educated speech and demeanor – unfitting of his ragged beige shirt and dark trousers.
Yet used it honestly.
“I'm Felix,” Felix said. “Felix Stormbringer. I'm sorry I couldn't do more. The vandread … once I recover, I'll seek her out again. Destroy her. No one else here can.”
And sat up. His back aching even more as he did. The mattress groaning as loud as Felix wanted to himself.
“No need to rush too quickly,” said Grunts. Even if he didn't move to stop Felix. No. Instead, he handed Felix a bowl of chicken broth. Complete with chopped noodles and a fresh pine spoon. A bowl large in Grunt's massive hands.
The growl of Felix's stomach forced him to take it. To wolf it down.
It even had just the right amount of salt in it.
Pepper too.
“Before you go,” said Grunts, “Would tell me what happened? What you know from the beginning? It seemed for some reason the lycan and other darklings are avoiding the buildings. I thought they were saving them for later. But when you crashed through those shutters, well – if the residents hadn't left carrying you through the nearest secret passage the moment they did … a horde of lycan smashed through the buildings. Destroying it completely, according to the residents.”
So the Earth Wizard had begun to move. The old man was cautious. Probably concerned over a trap before he tried anything too drastic.
The soup was only half finished, yet Felix already felt revitalized. Its savory warmth flowing through his veins.
Yet the door only a few feet away might as well been miles.
“A protective spell,” said Felix, “Probably. The Earth Wizard would never let Cheramin fall so easily. Not against a full invasion. Just be thankful no spidora were among those lycan.”
“Thank the gods,” said Grunts, “He's a good man, that Earth Wizard. I spoke to the residents who saved you. They said some strange things about the vandread – that she resembled a young promising playwright actress named Amber. Personality and looks. And that you saved a tigress… who almost got you killed. But I suspect some misunderstandings.”
“Misunderstandings … true,” Felix said. But refused to say more. Not now. Too risky. Few sympathized with lycan, domesticated or not. And the vandread – if she lived in this city while alive –
But Grunts only sighed.
The murmurs beyond the stone walls still echoed quietly enough to soften the sound.
“If you don't wish to speak of it, say no more,” said Grunts, “But if the vandread is indeed Amber, I can tell you quite a bit about her. She used to be my apprentice. Last I heard she got herself captured by the lycan. Killed with the other humans when the packs decided that human slaves were too dangerous to keep. Rumor had it a beautiful blond human girl inspired all her fellow slaves to revolt. Using a crude but effective play. Since the lycan were too uneducated to recognize what a play was. If true … not exactly the worst way to go. I only wish I knew the truth – and that last play she wrote.”
“It's true,” said Felix, “According to the Earth Wizard. But if this Amber is a vandread, she may no longer be free to side against the darklings that killed her. She'll slaughter us all without compassion or mercy.”
Grunts sighed again. Slumping.
“For a second chance at life,” he said, “She'd only insist on artistic license. That and eternal beauty, health, and youth. Here's what I know of her … afterwards, if you're willing, would you let me know …”
“Yes,” said Felix, “That and more.”
They both nodded.
Certain of what must be done next.