The washed out afternoon had morphed into a pleasant evening.

  We’d lit torches around the fortress courtyard, for those not blessed with darkvision. Our current task was to prevent the defeated undead from reanimating. This delicate procedure consisted of crushing as many skeletons as possible, then tossing the remains onto the smoldering pile in the middle of the courtyard. Tedious, but necessary work.

  My elation at our victory had settled…now I just felt a bit off. Everything was fine on the surface, but technically Windthrow and I still hadn’t made up.

  Lancet, like a shark sensing blood in the water, decided that now was a good time to speak with me. She swaggered across the courtyard towards me, exchanging celebratory words and laughs with her Rangers. When she reached me, her demeanor changed. All the warmth disappeared. This lady had some serious issues with me!

  She looked down at me, hands on her slender waist. Despite the battle she looked flawless, her pale skin and golden hair almost seemed to glow.

  “Hey Vylet,” she said. “You didn’t do too bad. Turns out you’re stronger than you look.”

  “Thanks Lancet, you did pretty good too. I guess,” I replied.

  “Just so you know. I don’t care that you kissed Windthrow,” she said.

  I sighed and stomped a skull into the ground.

  “You sure!? You seem annoyed.”

  She moved closer, looking down her nose at me. An evil glimmer in her eyes.

  “I think you misunderstand. There’s no law that says a man, or a woman, must have only one partner. There’s no laws at all.”

  “Sure, but Windthrow and I–”

  “Have an agreement?” she interrupted.

  “Are you sure about that?” Lancet gripped one of my horns and yanked my gaze upwards. “You think, after so many years enslaved, that Windthrow would give up a shred of his independence? Let alone give it up, for you? Delemin claims you're loyal, but you’re not the same as us. You were never a slave. You could never understand.”

  I wanted to shout. To slash her, or tackle her to the ground. Instead I felt frozen in place…she was right. I wasn’t like them, I was different.

  She released my horn, allowing my head to fall. I stared at the ground.

  As she walked away, she offered one last barb.

  “Cheer up! A man needs something like you, for variety.”

  Should I run to Windthrow? Pin down the details of our relationship, here and now? But was it fair to do that? Fuck…when did things get so complicated!

  Lancet had joined Del and Windthrow in front of the keep. I stayed behind the pile of burning corpses; suddenly ashamed to show my face.

  “So, how do you want to handle the interior?” Del asked.

  “You and that hammer won’t fit. Windthrow and I can clear it," Lancet responded.

  “What about Vylet?” Windthrow said. “She’s coming with us-”

  “She’s too tired from the battle, she’ll stay out here,” Lancet said.

  I rushed out from behind the pile. No way I was letting her win that easily!

  “I’m going too! You need someone on the front line! Someone small enough to fight in the tight corridors.”

  “Miss Vylet makes a good point. The three of you can go in, just holler if you need reinforcements,” Del said.

  “Fine. Come on, let's get this over with,” Lancet said, staring me down.

  Del pulled open the door for us and our small group crept inside.

  Very little light spilled in through the tiny windows. We followed the dim corridors, past darkened rooms. Mostly used for storage. There’d be time to loot later, for now we were searching for enemies. The corridors ended at a closed wooden door.

  As the evasion-tank, it was my job to lead the way. Focus. Ignore that Windthrow is behind you, don’t give him another reason to doubt you. Show him how reliable you are!

  I opened the door. Inside was a room, like a barracks, or group sleeping quarters. Bunk beds lined the walls, some collapsed.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  My two companions (I hate to call her that) followed after me. Anything could be lurking around these dark passages. At least in theory. Because as we explored between the beds we found only dust and cobwebs. Ahead was another door, at the far side of the room.

  “Hold on, let me double check this one,” I said.

  I put my ear flat against the door –a strategy learned from Windthrow. Any noise could be a sign of life (or unlife). There was only silence.

  Still, my instincts told me: Do not open this door. A sensation like electric an current, running from my horns down to the tip of my tail. Alarm bells. These instincts had gotten me injured, made Windthrow upset with me, made others look down on me…

  I pushed the door open, revealing steps downwards. Instantly, the temperature in the room plummeted. My breath was visible in front of my face.

  “What’s happening?” I said, panic audible in my voice.

  “I don’t know…” Lancet shouted back.

  She was crouched, scanning the room with her crossbow.

  The temperature kept decreasing, the chill seeped beneath my scales.

  “East wall!” Windthrow shouted.

  A pale hand emerged from the wall.

  “LEAVE,” something wailed. Its strained voice came from every direction.

  The thing kept emerging from the wall. A whole arm, then a torso, cut off at the waist! Ghostly intestines dragged behind it. Its face was locked in a permanent howl.

  Windthrow loosed an arrow and Lancet shot her bolt. Both clattered through the phantom and into the stone wall. Another emerged from behind us, cutting off our escape!

  “LEAVE. DIE. LEAVE. DIE,” they cried.

  Windthrow and Lancet kept shooting, to no effect. One of the phantoms reached out a curled hand, blasting necrotic energy towards Lancet. It crashed into her shoulder, knocking her to the ground. She groaned in agony.

  The phantoms flew at my allies, their attacks getting faster by the second. Windthrow tried to intercept, but his arrows were useless. The attacking phantom raked a hand across his chest, creating a jagged gash.

  “We have to run! Come on!” Windthrow dragged Lancet to her feet.

  I wanted to follow, but every step felt like weights were tied to my talons. The cold was slowing me down…I wouldn’t be able to escape.

  Not that it mattered; none of us would be able to leave this place. The phantoms were circling, speeding around us in a fuzzy haze. Shouting their awful curses.

  “DIE. DIE. DIE.”

  And beneath those, a few that seemed intended just for me.

  “SMALL. WEIRD. UNSTABLE. HE HATES YOU.”

  The words felt like cold blades stabbing into me.

  Suddenly, Tanglewood felt hot against my scales. An oasis in this frigid deathscape. It wanted to be used; it wanted to help. In my current state –almost frozen– I couldn’t throw with much force. But I was out of options. With my remaining strength, I lobbed my spear towards the closest ghost.

  The thing didn’t attempt a dodge. Seconds later, Tanglewood collided against its ghostly “flesh”. It unleashed an ear piercing scream while it dissolved to nothing.

  Somehow, now that Tanglewood was out of my hands, it was like our connection was stronger! If I moved my claw just a centimeter to the left…the spear turned midair following my movement.

  I pushed my claw all the way to the left, throwing my arm to the side! Tanglewood turned sharply, directly into the path of the second phantom. Upon making contact it burst into a cloud of dust! Then my spear collided with the wall, making a loud TWANG.

  My friend saved me, yet again.

  “I got em. We’re okay.”

  Lancet looked up at me, steadied by Windthrow’s hand.

  We limped back to the courtyard.

  At first Delemin looked shocked and concerned, but he was soon holding back a laugh.

  “Ghosts! That’s a surprise! I should’ve gone in after all, non-magic weapons wouldn’t do much good against those!” he said. “Lucky Vylet was with you, eh Lancet?”

  She didn’t justify that with a response, just snorting and looking away.

  Delemin marched towards the keep.

  “Come on Vylet, let's finish the job. These two can rest.”

  I wasn’t injured, so why not? I made a mental note to get a solid “thank you” out of Lancet later.

  “Windthrow, I’ll see you in a bit. I have a feeling we took care of the main threat.”

  He nodded, “Stay safe Vy.”

  I led Delemin down the empty halls, towards the stairs.

  “So that’s a magic hammer?” I asked.

  “My prized possession! Her name’s Breaker! The only thing worthwhile I ever got from my former masters.”

  “Mine’s called Tanglewood!” I showed him my beloved spear.

  “A fine weapon! Take good care of her. She picked you for a reason.” Delemin said. “Lancet would call me an idiot for that, but it’s true”

  “I think you’re right…Tanglewood feels like a friend sometimes.”

  He nodded, seeming more like a wise sage than a hulking warrior.

  Finally, we arrived at the steps. This time we didn’t have to bust any ghosts.

  “I’ll take the lead. You’ve done more than enough today,” Delemin said.

  He hunched over and started down the steps, poor guy barely fit. It was like walking down steps behind a sumo wrestler!

  We were nearing the end when Del stopped.

  “Turn around. There’s nothing you want to see here. I’ll send some men to search it.”

  His usually strong voice was quivering slightly.

  “Del, let me see!”

  He stepped aside, revealing the room we fought an entire battle to reach. A chamber filled entirely with bones. Bags. Crates. Skeletons wearing ragged clothes. Some were small…

  We turned back. There would be something worthwhile there, but I wouldn’t be part of the search.

  What the hell happened here?