Shadow Gambit Read online

  Shadow Gambit

  Shadow For Hire Series

  by

  Adam Drake

  Copyright © 2016 – Adam Drake

  Table of Contents

  Shadow Gambit

  -1-

  -2-

  -3-

  -4-

  -5-

  -6-

  -7-

  -8-

  -9-

  -10-

  -11-

  -12-

  -13-

  -14-

  -15-

  -16-

  -17-

  -18-

  -19-

  Bonus Book - The Big Bag of Infinite Cats

  -1-

  -2-

  -3-

  -4-

  -5-

  -6-

  -7-

  -8-

  -9-

  -10-

  -11-

  -12-

  -13-

  -14-

  -15-

  -16-

  CHAPTER ONE

  I clung to the cliff face for dear life as the angry dragon flew overhead.

  Pressing my body hard against the rocky surface I did my best to keep from being noticed by the giant flying lizard. Rock climbing may have been a specialty for my Shadow class, but it didn't hurt to be cautious. One slip and I would plummet hundreds of feet into the molten lake below. An ignominious end to a rather stellar questing career.

  Thankfully, the dragon did not look in my direction. Instead, it banked away, flapping its great leathery wings to disappear into the dark haze and smoke which spewed from the volcano. I breathed a sigh of relief and adjusted my hand and footholds. The giant lizard would be back that was for certain. Within my backpack was its egg I had just swiped from its nest, and the creature would do everything to get it back.

  Craning my neck I looked upwards. The cliff ledge was still a fair distance away. Reaching it would be the only salvation I could hope for. Either that or be melted off the cliff wall.

  Unconsciously, I wiped at a trickle of sweat on my temple being careful of my grip. The simulation suit I wore did a good job of making me feel like I was really perched above real lava. Too good. With a few sub-vocal commands I instructed the suit to tone down the climate controls, and instantly I felt cooler. My avatar would not benefit within this virtual reality. She would sweat like a pig, regardless. But for me as the player could be allowed some comfort. A message appeared at the corner of my vision, asking if the temperature was adequate. I dismissed it and looked around for the dragon.

  Nothing but smoke and ash filled the sky. Delay would only bring failure and this quest I was on had been earmarked as 'Special'. If I failed my character would be heavily penalized. I resumed my ascent although it was slow going. Having climbed down this same cliff to get to the dragon's nest a short time ago, my avatar was feeling the strain. But I could not stop now and regenerate. Time for that after I reached the top.

  Gripping an overhang, I attempted to pull myself over when my foot slipped. Panicked, I clasped at the rock face in desperation. The movement caused my pack to jostle open and the dragon egg within slipped out. I gasped and shot a hand out to grab it as the egg tumbled beneath me. Its slick golden surface did not help, but I barely snagged it with my fingers.

  From across the volcano the dragon shrieked.

  Uh-oh, I thought and risked a glance over my shoulder.

  The reptilian image of the flying dragon emerged from the dark clouds. It was a fair distance away, but not for long. And it was heading straight at me.

  I looked from the approaching dragon to the egg in my hand. The creature sensed it. My pack shielded the egg from detection but exposing it gave the dragon a beacon to home in on.

  Not that I could do anything about it now. Placing the egg back in the pack wouldn't stop it from zeroing in on me and blasting me off the wall. I looked below me. The lava lake bubbled and hissed. Throwing it might be an option. The dragon would follow the egg downward until the treasure vanished into the lava. Then it would turn its rage on me. Tossing the egg would not give me enough time to reach the cliff top. And besides, I wanted to keep the egg considering all the trouble this quest had given me.

  There was only one choice, and it wasn't the best.

  I placed the egg back into my pack and then, with a cringe, selected the 'Summon Companion' icon from the bottom corner of my vision.

  The next instant a ferret appeared on the edge of the overhang above me. He wore a pair of leather breeches over his fur, and a small blue jacket with the name 'Phlixx' embroidered across one breast pocket. Atop his head was a wide-brimmed hat with a white feather pinned to one side. His ears poked through a pair of holes in the brim.

  His wide eyes latched onto me. “My love! You have summoned me!” he hollered.

  I rolled my eyes and pulled myself up onto the overhang, my chest pressed against the wall. There was hardly any space to sit. “Phlixx, I need your help.”

  “You need me, my sweet?” The little ferret crooned as he scampered up the rock to get eye level with me. Climbing was one of his innate abilities, far superior to mine. Which was exactly what I needed.

  “Yes,” I said, and pulled my pack around to open it. The moment I did, and the egg was exposed, the dragon roared. This time much closer.

  Phlixx looked from the egg to the dragon coasting through the air toward us over the volcano. His huge eyes got even wider. “Dragon! A dragon!” In one of his tiny fists a little crossbow appeared. “I'll protect you, Honeybun! Even if it is with my last breath!”

  I was counting on that. Grabbing the egg, I turned Phlixx around so his back was to me. I then jammed the golden egg into his own little pack.

  “A gift?” Asked Phlixx. “Now, of all times? Shouldn't we be fleeing?”

  As if to emphasize the suggestion, the dragon roared, again.

  Satisfied that the egg would not pop out, I turned Phlixx back around and looked into his little beady eyes. “I need you to climb.”

  “Climb?” His head whipped about in confusion. “But where?”

  “Up!” I said and grabbed his small body with both hands. Then, with my legs gripping the overhang with effort to not lose my balance, I placed Phlixx onto the rock face above me. “Get to the top as fast as you can!”

  Clinging to the rocks with ease, Phlixx gave me a mournful look. “You want me to leave you? Now, in your time of need?”

  “Go!” I commanded. “Or I will never speak to you again!”

  That did it. Phlixx blinked in recognition of what I said and bolted up the cliff wall. “I shall do as you bid me, but only out of love for you!”

  I watched as the little ferret zipped up with a speed I could never attain, no matter how many skill points I put into my climbing ability.

  Satisfied, I then twisted my torso around to look at the dragon. And it was as I thought. The dragon's attention was now on the egg in Phlixx's pack. Instead of flying at me, it had altered its course to intercept my love-lorn companion.

  Pressing my stomach against the rocks to maintain my balance on the overhang, I extended a hand. A longbow appeared within my grip.

  “Okay,” I said. “Only going to have one shot at this.”

  The dragon had now flown up to the rock wall and slowed to a stop. Its huge wings flapping rapidly to keep level. The wind it generated buffeted me and Phlixx, who was now in full panic mode.

  “Begone, vile lizard! Or I will turn your hide into boots!” Phlixx cried, all the while never altering his climb.

  Careful of my precarious balance, I reached behind my shoulder to my quiver which was empty. I uttered a word, “Kezzan,” and a single arrow appeared within the quiver. I pulled it out. It was ebony in color, and shimmered with magi
cal energy. Made from the bone of a greater demon, this arrow had cost me dearly to get. But now I had to use it.

  Above me the dragon inhaled, a great and powerful noise as it filled its tremendous lungs. It would blast Phlixx off the wall with fire and probably take me and the entire cliff face with it.

  Sensing the end, Phlixx stopped his climbing and was now rapid firing his crossbow at the beast. The bolts bounced harmlessly off its thick hide.

  With a steady grip I aimed at the only exposed part of the dragon's body I had a hope of piercing. One of its eyes.

  A chat request suddenly flashed at my lower vision. It was from Mudhoof, a fellow player and friend. Annoyed, I dismissed it and focused on the dragon.

  At the end of its inhalation, the dragon's eyes widened. This was it. It was going to exhale death upon us all.

  I fired.

  And in the next moment the dragon shrieked in agony, and reared back, the demon arrow jutting out of its left eye. The beast, confused and in pain, blasted fire upwards toward the sky.

  Then the dragon turned away with a roar.

  Phlixx cheered and shook a fist at the retreating dragon. “That'll teach you to mess with my love!”

  Relieved, I resumed climbing. No sense sitting around in case the dragon came back. When I finally pulled myself over the lip of the cliff edge, I found Phlixx standing on a boulder, hands on his little hips, looking proud.

  “Did I do good?” He asked eagerly.

  I laughed. “You did superb, Phlixx. Thank you.” I reached down and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Now, the egg please.”

  “Of course!” He said, beaming and pulled the egg out of his pack with both hands and handed it to me. “What will we do now? Defeat another dragon?”

  I looked at the glittering egg which reflected my avatar's face across its gold surface. “No more dragons. Not for a while. We need to get out of here and back to the safety of the travel gate area.”

  We walked in the direction of the base camp, where I had entered this adventure zone to finish the golden egg quest.

  I hefted the egg in one hand while keeping an eye on the murky sky above. “Then we'll find out if this thing was worth almost having to re-roll a new character for.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Heading back to base camp was another dangerous ordeal entirely.

  I picked my way down the sloping side of the volcano, avoiding steaming crevices and vents which belched hot ash. All the while I kept an eye on the cloudy sky.

  Only on one occasion did I feel the need to hide behind a huge rock as a loud screeching echoed from every direction. Phlixx shivered dramatically as he clutched at my shoulder. But when a vengeful dragon did not making a fiery appearance, I continued on.

  At the furthest edge of the volcano the terrain opened to a series of hills covered with the remnants of a forest. Blackened trees smoldered and what little vegetation existed was buried under mounds of ash.

  Now I grew more cautious. The relative open area of the volcano gave me a clear view of anyone approaching. But here in the burned out forest things got to be close quarters. I was in a player versus player area. A PvP zone. Another player could come along and attack me with impunity. If I died, they would have access to all the items in my inventory; weapons, gold, the contents of my backpack and the golden egg. I'd worked hard for the egg and had no intention of giving it up to anyone without a fight.

  A path led the way through the blackened trees toward the base camp. As the main artery to the quest area of the volcano, it was from the camp's direction I was likely to run into other players. So I walked to one side, through the trees while keeping the path in view, Phlixx skipping along by my side.

  But by the time I reached the base camp I'd encountered no other players heading in either direction. As I passed over the edge of the camp's perimeter a message 'Safe Zone' appeared at the top of my vision, then faded away. Here, no one could hurt or kill me. Even casting helpful spells on someone, like healing, could not be done unless specifically permitted by the receiving player. I relaxed.

  The base camp wasn't much to look at. It was in an open area cleared of trees with a large bonfire at its center. To one side hunched an old crone with various wares and goods splayed over a mat on the ground.

  I wandered too close, and she keyed in on me. “Hello, weary traveler! Would you like to look at my wares?”

  “No, thanks,” I said, mostly out of habit as something I would say to her in the real world. But here, the old crone was a simple construct of the game, one with a single task, to sell me goods.

  “Are you certain?” She continued hopefully as I passed by. “Salve for your wounds? Ale for your aching mind?”

  I ignored her and walked past, but she caught Phlixx's interest. With the old crone's attention on me the ferret crept behind her and lifted the back of her robe. He peered underneath then shrieked in dismay.

  The crone whirled on him, waving her hands. “Begone, rat! Or I'll throw you in a cooking pot!”

  Phlixx had pinwheeled away, wide-eyed and aghast. He collapsed to the ground and made a show of retching up air. “I've seen your wares, lady, and they cannot be unseen!” he wailed.

  I walked around the bonfire and stood before the clearing's only other feature.

  A travel gate.

  The gate was a huge circle which stood on its edge, mounted on a base with a short series of stairs leading up to it. Its edge was marked with various ruins of an ancient language my avatar did not understand, and these emitted a soft yellow glow. The middle surface diameter of the circle was silver and shimmered like a pond. My avatar's reflection played across its strange surface.

  I'd arrived through this gate to search for the golden egg.

  Not yet ready to change areas I turned away and sat on a fallen log next to the bonfire. Phlixx bounded over to sit at my side. “Can I see the pretty egg, again? Please?” He begged.

  I glanced around. Other than the old crone who still stared at me expectantly, there was no one else. “Why not?” I said, wanting a better look at it, too.

  I fished the egg out of my backpack and cradled it in my hands. Its surface had the bumpy texture of a real egg, emphasizing the power of the game's detail, and glinted with the light of the fire.

  “Looks like an egg,” I said. “But is it worth anything?” The goal of the special quest was to get the dragon's egg but nothing specified what happened after. Usually the reward was gold and experience points for my avatar.

  “Maybe we can cook it?” Phlixx said, drooling with his tongue hanging out.

  “Now there's a thought.” Perhaps something was inside? I shook the egg close to my ear but nothing rattled. Holding the egg at an angle I examined it closer with the light of the fire. A thin groove circled around its middle. “Looks as if we don't need to crack it open.” I gripped the egg at both ends and twisted.

  The egg unscrewed into two halves. It was hollow within save for a rolled up parchment. A quest scroll.

  “Oh, crud,” I said. No gold, or gems, or magical items this time. What I needed was something to sell at the auction house.

  “Huh? What is it?” Phlixx said peering at the scroll. “Can we eat it?”

  “Nope,” I said, removing the scroll from the egg casing. “Just means we're not done, yet. This silly quest is far from over.”

  Phlixx frowned and so did I. I wasn't keen on following an extended chain of quests. But if I wanted a reward completing them would be necessary.

  The rolled scroll had no markings on it other than a red wax seal. Pressed into the wax was the symbol of what looked to be a sword, one I could not identify.

  “Let's see what we've got,” I said and broke the seal to unfurl the scroll. A simple map was drawn across the parchment's surface. Examining it closer I recognized it as an area somewhere in the Southern Kingdoms. A red 'X' marked a spot at the end of a valley in a mountain range. With the help of my avatar's map reading skill names of landmarks an
d towns appeared.

  I sighed. Nothing else showed what the quest was or what the reward for completing it would be. Typical. As an adventurer you were more or less expected to show up at a quest location and figure things out from there.

  “Not sure if this is worth our while,” I said to Phlixx who had already lost interest and cartwheeled around. “I'll save it for another time or trade it.”

  I was about to slip the scroll into my inventory when a chat request popped up in my vision. At first I thought it was Mudhoof bugging me again, but dollar signs appended the request label.

  Spammer? Couldn't be. My filters were good at keeping unwanted solicitations from gold farmers and other pests from trying to sell me their crap. If it was a spammer, I'd report them to the game's administrators. Let management deal with him.

  I initiated the chat and a large view window appeared in front of me. Within the window was the face of a large gray owl. Beneath him was the name Ogden Trite. “Greetings!” said the owl, ruffling his feathers as he spoke. “Thank you for accepting my chat request. I am most eager to speak with you. You are Vivian Valesh, the Shadow quester, yes?”