Heather the Necromancer

Book 4: Chapter 7: Master of Traps

The skeletons approached the ruins of the keep, hoisting her palanquin over the brush and rubble. Frank warned them that something else might be living inside and urged them to be careful. He walked ahead of the group to draw out any potential danger as they wound their way down the path.

Not exactly a five-star hotel, Heather remarked as they skeletons carried her closer. The main entrance was a stone arch that once held a wooden gate. The doors were long gone, but the passage was unusually clear of rubble and foliage. The inner courtyard looked to have once held a stable, a sizeable wooden building, a stone fort, and a long narrow building along one wall. All of it was in ruins, the wooden building a pile of charred timbers, and the stone ones full of holes. Not a bit of glass remained in any window, and vines were already crawling inside.

Well, its a ruin, Quinny said as they arrived in the central yard that was also surprisingly clear.

The fort still has a roof, I think, Frank said as he looked over the three-story square tower that comprised the keeps main building.

Are we sure its safe? Breanne worried as they moved into the courtyard.

Heather looked around and didn't see anything that looked dangerous. The yard itself was once a flat area of polished stones. Trees grew in between the stones, and the walls were lined with rubble. The center yard was still clear, almost maintained as if somebody wanted to keep it that way.

Breanne stepped around a tree stump and let out a cry of alarm. She fell over and was suddenly dragged across the yard to the large keep building. Heather and the others watched in amazement as Breanne was hoisted up the wall by a rope while a bundle of rocks came down the other way.

Frank ran after her and got only a dozen steps when the ground below him gave way, and he vanished down a dark shaft. Quinny, who was following stopped just in time and backed away as a crossbow bolt, struck her leg.

Its an ambush! Quinny cried and raised her shield as a second bolt flew from a dark window.

Heather was down in a moment and quickly gathered her skeletons and bone knight to lead a charge across the yard. She passed the pit Frank had fallen into and pressed on to get closer to the tower. The shooters were inside, and she hoped her skeletons could quickly overwhelm them. Just outside the doorway, she stumbled on a tripwire. A rumbling sound filled the air as stones tumbling over the roof's lip.

She shrieked and scrambled for the open the door as the falling debris pummeled her skeletons. Just inside, she tripped on a second cord, and a log attached to the ceiling swung down. Her shield went up, but the impact was strong enough to throw her out the door, tumbling her into the yard.

There was a thunk as the bone knight hovered over, raising its shield to protect her. She lifted her head and fell into her pulsing heal certain some of her ribs were broken. From this vantage point, she saw Breanne go ghostly and slip from the noose around her leg, passing through the wall into the keep. Quinny arrived at her side with her shield raised as more crossbow bolts rained down on them.

There must be twenty people in there, Quinny said. They have fired that many bolts or more already.

This whole place is a death trap, Heather groaned as the pain melted away. She felt a tap at her shoulder to find Webster at her side. She quickly snatched him up and carried him back to the cart with her bone knight, shielding her the whole way.

Put that down! She ordered the skeletons and then reached in to grab an empty backpack. Hide in here, she said to Webster and put him in before shouldering the pack and turning back around. Umtha, hide back here, were going to deal with these fools.

Careful, Umtha said. Enemy clever.

Hmm, Heather replied. Lets find out how clever they are.

There was a sudden flash inside the building, and for a moment they could see a figure in one of them. Then the air filled with a banshee wail followed by explosions of light and smoke.

Breanne must be attacking them, Quinny said when the bolts stopped. We should help her.

We need to get Frank out of that hole, Heather urged before calling up her plant armor. He is good at leading the charge and absorbing the damage.

Im pretty tanky, Quinny said with a pale smile. Besides, he should be out in a minute.

Heather wasn't sure why Quinny was so calm but then the doorway to the tower filled with smoke and fire as a being in dark gray and black burst out. He was roughly a meter and a half tall with a black scarf over his face. He wore goggles of some kind and had bandoliers of vials and metal devices crossing his chest. On his back was an unusual sort of harness that held an array of strange items. He yanked a stick that ended in a dozen small tubes from that harness and turned to the doorway. The air filled with smoke as the tubes fired like little cannons, spraying the doorway with metal spikes.

What on earth? Heather remarked as Breanne came out of the wall beside him instead of the door.

Cheating! the gray man squeaked and threw something at his feet. He was engulfed in a cloud of smoke, obscuring him from sight. Breanne wailed again, using her concussive force to sweep the cloud, catching him as he dived behind a log. She raced to where he had gone only to frown in disapproval.

Did you get him? Heather called.

No, there is a small door that was hiding a shaft in the ground. This whole place is probably riddled with tunnels, Breanne barked.

How many more are there inside? Quinny asked.

None, this annoyance is the only one.

Only one? Quinny said. Then who is shooting all the crossbows?

He is! Breanne shouted. There are five preloaded crossbows propped against the wall next to every window, and every door is barred, barricaded, and trapped. Be careful with him; he has bombs and devices that can hurt even me.

The ground shook, and they heard a muffled explosion as smoke began to rise from the open shaft. A moment later, a hidden hatch burst open across the yard, and the gray figure jumped out as two clawed hands tore through the ground after him.

You noobs are no fun! the man cried and ran for the narrow guardhouse along the wall.

Heather's bone knight and remaining skeletons ran after him, but he chucked a bottle over his head as he ran and coated the ground in a black liquid. Her bone knight slipped first, followed by all the skeletons as they collected in a pile. Frank tore out of the earth, looking extremely angry as he turned to see the man run into the building.

Frank! Heather cried and ran to his side. How did you get there?

I can dig very fast, and there was a tunnel to follow already.

Heather was relieved he was back but looked at his side to see him bristling with metal pins. Are you alright?

That rogue pelted me with darts, Frank replied. He throws them like you see in movies.

Oh, pull those out and let me heal you, Heather fussed as she helped him get them out and then used her heal.

That pest has gone back into hiding, Breanne growled. I bet that building is as full of traps as the other one.

You can pass through them, though, Heather said.

Breanne turned to look at her and pointed to her side where a burned line traced over her spectral skin.

He managed to hurt your ghost form? Heather asked in alarm.

I am not immune to magic or magic weapons, Breanne replied. Those devices he is throwing act like magic attacks.

Heather finished with Frank and turned to Breanne, then dealt with the bolt in Quinny. She started to feel rather tired from all the spell casting when another crossbow bolt fired from a narrow window.

We either deal with that pest or go someplace else, Breanne remarked.

I vote we deal with him, Quinny said. I know how to manage the traps.

How? Frank asked.

We use cannon fodder to set off the traps, Quinny said with a smile. She moaned and made a clawing motion with her hands, calling on her summon zombie ability. The ground began to churn as zombies crawled out, answering her call with moans of their own. She ordered them through the door and waited behind the cover of her shield. The others took cover behind a nearby pile of rocks and waited to see what happened next.

They watched as the zombies entered the doorway, and a spiked arm swung around, impaling two of them. The remaining three continued inside and out of view. There was a flash of light, and through a narrow window, they saw a burning zombie stumble by.

Wow, Heather remarked. This place is awful.

He must have had a long time to get this ready, Frank suggested.

Is that a player? Heather asked a loud thump echoed from inside.

I think so, Breanne said. Some kind of rogue class.

It's an engineer class, Frank said. He uses gadgets for all his effects. He must have been building them and using them to fortify and trap this place for days. There was a second crashing noise inside, and an arrow fired from a window slit as they ducked behind a rock.

Youre going to have to do better than zombies, a voice shouted from inside.

Heather dared to peek over the rock at the building. It was a single story tall, with no roof to speak of and several large holes in the wall. She considered sending in her zombies but thought that would be a waste. Since the trap in the door was sprung, she felt confident they could at least get inside. All skeletons on me, Zombies protect Umtha and the palanquin.

What are you doing? Frank asked.

I am going in. I want to talk to this nuisance.

What if there are more traps?

I will use the skeletons to find them, Heather replied and stepped out of cover with the bone knight standing in front, shielding her. Quinny walked beside her as Frank and Breanne followed. The doorway looked dark and ominous, made more terrifying by the impaled zombies hanging inside it. Heather sent four skeletons in first then followed quickly with her bone knight.

The sun was in its evening position, casing long rays through the windows and holes in the outer wall. Motes of dust and wisps of smoke floated in the rays of light. The floor was strewn with rubble from the collapsed roof, buying the rotting remains of beds. There was a relatively clear path on the right wall that led down the length of the building, almost seemingly swept free of the rubble.

Look, whoever you are, we didn't come here to fight, Heather said. We were just looking for a dry place to camp for the night.

Then why did you bring an army of the undead? a voice echoed from the empty room.

It's not an army, and I needed something to carry my palanquin, so I didn't have to walk the whole way, she replied as her eyes searched the uneven darkness. There wasn't much space to hide except the back corner where there was a pile of loose stones that went floor to ceiling. She assumed the stranger must be hiding back there and cautiously made her way down the path.

The smell of smoke and burned skin wafted in the air as she passed a charred zombie laying motionless of the floor. A few feet further was a second one impaled to the wall by a spear. The last one was cut neatly in half by a long wooden pole with a sword attached to it. It was rigged on a spring mechanism to swing out in a long arc. She stopped at the halfway point and looked ahead, knowing there were more traps.

Cant we just talk like normal people? she asked.

Normal people dont invade a ruined keep in the middle of the swamps, the voice said.

Were not invading, she replied in frustration. Were traveling to the goblin village in the upper swamp.

Why?

Because our goblin friend says they have something for me, she answered, standing at the step of safe floor.

You have a goblin for a friend? the voice asked.

Look, it's hard to explain, but yes, I have a goblin friend. I have a lot of goblin friends, and I didn't come here to fight you.

A dark shape stepped out from behind the pile of rubble with a crossbow leveled her way. A black cloth masked his face with the goggles defining his eyes. It was here as she finally got a good look at him and saw his green ears sticking out the sides of his hood.

Goodness, you're a goblin, Heather said.

Right you are, the voice replied. And you're a necromancer. I haven't seen one of you in years.

The shock of being called a necromancer showed on her face for just a second. Of course, he deduced that. She walked in here with a hoard of the undead after all. There was no point in trying to hide it, so she recovered and replied. Thats a long story, Heather said as she folded her arms. Can we stop fighting and talk?

Were talking now, he replied, never lowering the crossbow. Why don't you tell me why a necromancer is parading around the swamp when they are outlawed?

Heather wasn't sure if this was a step forward or some kind of trick. Heather sighed and told him that she was helping the goblins and that she needed to get to the ones in the swamp because they could give her the information she needed. Along the way, she discovered the queen and her problem, so she agreed to help her recover the kingdom heart from the mad wizard.

Why did you pick necromancer? he asked.

It's a long story, she said, not wanting to divulge any more.

We have plenty of time. I'm not going anywhere, and you fools want to stay the night.

I'm sorry, but it's my business, Heather replied with a tone of finality.

The goblins ears twitched, and he made a slight bow. Well, then I want nothing to do with you, he said and then was surrounded by a puff of smoke.

Wait! Heather cried. Were not here to fight you.

Too bad, the man shouted as a bolt fired out of the cloud. She folded her arms and brought up her plant shield catching the bold, but the goblin was already gone.

That went well, Breanne said as she looked around nervously.

Go away! a voice shouted from somewhere around them.

We just wanted a place to camp. Why cant you be reasonable?

Go camp in the swamp; this is my base.

You're awfully rude, Heather insisted as she motioned to her skeletons to spread out around her. They walked just ahead to set off any traps before they killed her. The bone knight was directly at her side shield high as they started to creep forward. Somewhere in the room, they heard a rattle like a chain, but nothing noticeable moved.

You're the rude ones. You invaded my home with your army, and then tell me that crazy story. Why would a necromancer care about goblins or the queen? You need to learn how to lie better.

Listen, there are details I don't feel comfortable sharing with strangers. We are just looking for a dry place to camp for the night. We don't want a fight at all, and you are the one who attacked us. Why don't you agree to let us camp in the courtyard, and we won't bother you anymore.

Sorry, I dont work with noobs, he replied as they heard a cracking sound. The room vibrated slightly as the pile of rubble fell away in a glitter of light.

An illusion, Breanne remarked as they saw what it hid.

Heather swallowed as a statue of metal plates appeared. It stood a foot taller than Frank with a single glass eye that glowed with a soft yellow light. It was crafted to resemble a man with broad shoulders and short legs with the metalwork even going so far as to show muscle. It was so well done that it reminded her of a Roman statue, smooth and flowing except where the seams met. She noticed it was bound in chains that were secured to bolts in the floor. To her shock, those chains suddenly moved, becoming loose and freeing the creature.

It took me forever to lure one of these in here to trap it, the voice said. But it was worth it. An iron golem is really hard to kill.

The statue made a strange grinding sound, like metal being dragged over a stone floor as it lurched forward, raising a mighty hand that had inch long spikes on its knuckles.

Look out! Breanne cried as the monster came running in. Frank tried to intercept it, but it batted him aside so forcefully he cracked the wall with his impact.

Heather went into a spell and fired a roting bolt that didn't even tarnish its skin. My spell didnt work? Heather said as she blinked.

It's not living tissue, you can't rot, or disease it, Breanne said as she darted around to turn it's back on Heather. The bone knight raced in and drew a line of sparks across the golems skin that didn't even get its attention. Quinny struck him as well but did even less as Breanne fired black darts that left little pocks on its shell. Her skeletons piled on, all taking tiny nicks from it's hide, but doing no real damage.

The goblin was right. This thing was hard to kill, especially if their weapons did almost no damage. Breanne screamed at it with a wail that produced a line of red light that burned a gouge across its hide. She ducked out of the way, passing through a wall as it pursued her and punched a hole where she had been a second ago.

Heather thought back to the book and what it said about golems. They were magical constructs and resistant to most forms of attack, and even immune to a few. Every type had a weakness or two, but her book didn't have metal golems in it. She did remember that they were animated but not intelligent, and she quickly thought of a plan.

Everybody outside! she shouted as she ran for the door. The others ran after her as did her skeletons and bone knight. Once outside, she relayed the plan to an approving nod from Frank. Just as she finished, the doorway crumbled as the metal monster walked through the frame like a bulldozer. She had everyone stand close together in the middle of the yard as she and Breanne pelted it with spells.

The ground shook as the statue ran at them, picking up speed like a boulder rolling downhill. Heather smiled as it closed, never moving an inch as the monster raised a fist to strike. It never landed the blow, stepping into the open pit Frank had fallen into earlier. It lurched forward then pitched back as it rattled down the shaft into the tunnels below.

Few, Quinny said. That thing is near immune to normal weapons.

What do we do now? Breanne asked as she dared to look over the pit.

It falls nearly twenty meters into a dungeon room with a tunnel leading out, Frank said. That thing will be wandering the lower tunnels now.

And if our goblin friend is down there, it will be his problem, Heather remarked.

What about the shafts out? Quinny asked.

Frank looked to where he came out and shook his head. I filled that tunnel in as I dug, and the other shafts all had ladders. I bet that thing is too heavy to climb them.

Then we defeated it, Heather said with a pleased smile.

What about the goblin annoyance? Breanne asked as she looked around the keep. He's still here someplace, almost certainly watching us. The ground shook ever so slightly, and they heard strange garbled cries.

Ha! Hes down in the tunnels, Quinny laughed.

Another hidden door opened up as the goblin jumped out and used a slingshot to hurl a glowing stone. Heather jumped forward to intercept it with her shield as it exploded on the surface.

You noobs are annoying, the goblin shouted as it ran for the tower. It will take forever to get that golem out of the tunnels.

He's getting away, Quinny said and went running after him, but Heather barred the way with her scythe.

Wait, she said and pointed a single finger. The goblin darted inside the building that had holes in the wall and no windows. There was no way to keep the outside from getting in as Heather produced a cloud of bees and sent them pouring inside.

That was devious, Frank said as flashes and cries echoed from inside the building.

Heather sent in two more clouds for good measure then waited outside leaning on her scythe. A moment later, the goblin hurled himself from a third-story window, a cloud of black dots chasing him. He grabbed the rope that dragged Breanne and tried to climb down. The bees made him swing and swat until he slipped and plummeted the last ten feet.

Now, maybe we can talk, Heather replied as she walked across the yard to the form, barely moving at the base of the building. As Heather approached, he reached for a weapon off his back, but she bent over and yelled. Webster! Get him! Webster leaped from her backpack and tackled him knocking him to the ground in a tangle of limbs. He struggled to free himself from the spider but froze when the point of a scythe came to his chest.

Are you done? Heather asked as she leaned over the goblin.

What kind of necromancer has bees, and a backpack spider? the goblin choked as he lay on his back.

The kind that didn't want to fight you in the first place, Heather remarked. Now, if you agree to stop attacking us, I will spare you and heal your wounds.

You can heal? he stammered.

Do you agree or not? Heather demanded, pressing the point of her scythe to remind him.

Fine, you noobs can camp here, he groaned.

What is a noob? Heather asked.

Its a term for new players who dont know what they are doing, Frank said.

Heather frowned and tightened her grip on the scythe as the goblin threw up his hands.

Ok, Im sorry, you can stay the night. I promise I wont attack you or do anything to harm you.

Good enough, Heather remarked and took the weapon away to begin healing.

Her spell pulsed a dozen times as the goblin lay still on the ground. Eventually, he sat up and looked around with a sigh. You guys are really going to try and get the queens kingdom heart back?

Thats one of our goals, Heather said. The other is a personal one with the goblins.

You do know you're going up against a high-level wizard and a master rogue? he goblin asked as he stood up and tested his arms.

So we were told, Heather replied with a sigh. But, I have a knack for overcoming challenges.

Fair enough. You took care of the iron golem and drove me out of my fortress, so maybe you got something, but the wizard has a lot more golems.

How do you know that? Frank asked.

The goblin dusted himself off, and they could see he wore a belt ringed with metal balls and strange items. He reached up and pulled his goggles to the top of his head before pulling down his face mask. His skin was an olive green with a light stipes along his face. He had the characteristic larger nose of the goblins and pointed ears that stood straight out. They could just make out a mane of black hair under the hood as he looked around.

I'm Legeis, he said with a slight bow. Goblin war engineer.

I knew he was an engineering class of some kind, Frank said as Heather rolled her eyes.

Why would you be scouting it out? Heather asked.

Golems, Legeis said. He's making a lot more than he should be able to. He must have some magical item that allows him to animate more, and I want to know how.

What good would that do you? Frank asked. Can your class make golems?

Legeis made a toothy smile. No, but I have an even better plan. I want to make a battle suite.

A what? Heather asked.

A battle suit, he replied. Havent you ever played MMOs?

Heather sighed and shook her head. No, I am not a gamer, she answered dryly.

Then why are you in here?

Heather looked at the others, and Frank shrugged. He already knows your a necromancer, why bother keeping the rest.

Besides, he's a monster player, so he's on our side, Quinny said.

Heather nodded and turned back, not sure whose side he was on, if any. I'm chosen. I didn't want to be here; they picked me and dragged me in.

Your chosen? Legeis said as he rubbed his chin. So, what are your other classes?

Flower singer and recluse, Heather replied. I didn't pick the necromancer either. I was tricked into playing it. She saw the narrowed expression as he tried to puzzle her words out. She went ahead and explained her arrival and how Moon used her naivety to trick her, and some of the events afterward.

Ah, that's why you have bees and the druid armor, he said with a nod. But, you have enemies like that, and you stayed where you are? You guys aren't very smart.

Heather growled and put her hands on hips as she argued back. I don't want my friends to have to give up all they have built.

Seems like that choice will be taken away from you sooner or later, Legeis said. But hey, that's your choice to make not mine. Me, I am trying to build a battle suite like you see goblins piloting in some MMO's. I trapped that iron golem, so I could study how it works, but too much of it is magic and not mechanical. What I need to know is how he is making them so I can modify the process.

How will that help you make a battle suit? Quinny sked.

I will build the body and animate it like a golem, but the head will be a sort of cockpit that I sit in and steer from. I just need to know how he brings them to life, so I can copy it and use it on a more mechanical body.

And then what? Heather asked?

What do you mean and then what? Then I have an ogre-sized robot body that can punch through walls and carry a bunch of bombs and gadgets. I will cover the things with cannons and bomb-throwers and turn it into a walking arsenal. I will be unstoppable.

Heather nodded as Umtha walked up and stepped around the side.

Goblins no fight Hathlisora! she shouted and pointed at him.

Who? he said with a confused look.

Heather smiled and let out a gentle sigh. She means me. My name is Heather, but the goblins call me Hathlisora.

Why? Legeis asked with confusion.

She Hathlisora! Umtha insisted. She friend and protector of goblins.

Is this an NPC thing? he asked.

That is exactly what it is, Breanne said with a shake of her head. And it's part of why we're traveling the swamp to the goblin village. They are waiting for somebody named Hathlisora to come to rescue them, and they say Heather is her.

Hmm, Legeis said as she looked at Umtha. I have been to that village a hundred times and never heard them use that name before.

It's apparently some kind of secret, Heather said and then filled him in on how she came to be called that name. He asked detailed questions and then challenged her belief that she wasn't Hathlisora. He pointed out that she did indeed fit all the criteria Umtha was looking for. She had to argue that she had only been in the world for a short time, and Hathlisora was long dead already. He shrugged and asked to see the crown, but she hesitated to hand over something so important to somebody she just met. After some negotiating, he explained he just wanted to study it for a minute, saying he might be able to learn something about it. Any chance to learn about the crown was worth taking in her opinion, so she handed it over. He made a slight 'hmm' while turning it in his hands as he studied it with his goggles and an eyepiece he placed over one lens.

This is a work of pure magic, he said as he turned it over. Its crafted from the ground up as a magical item.

How is that different from any other magic item? Frank asked.

Most people build an item first, then enchant it to make it magical, Legeis answered. Very few items are crafted of pure magic shaped into a solid form. Whoever made this was very powerful and knew exactly what they were doing, he added as he handed it back.

But you can't tell us any more? Heather asked.

He shrugged. It was made to do a specific thing. I couldn't tell you what. If it was a manufactured item, I might be able to tell you something about how it was made.

They spent the rest of the night around a fire Legeis lit by tossing something he pulled from a pouch on a pile of sticks. It resembled a red jellybean, but he called it a firestone, and it instantly started to burn once he released it.

He told them about the swamps ahead and the dangers of some of the monsters. There were three paths north, but all of them went to the same place, the question was how you wanted to get there. Two paths went around the rim of the mesa, skirting the rocky hills with the swamp to one side. These routes were the longest and would take more than a day to travel, but they were usually the safest. The last path went nearly straight through the swamp and would get them to their destination in just under a day. The shorter path was more dangerous, but it came out at the goblin village along the base of the mountain. The golems almost exclusively used the outer ring to travel because they were heavy and sank in the swamp's mud. Some rare golems were made of wood that did walk the swamps, but they quickly rotted and fell apart.

Heather asked him where the wizard was, and Legeis was all too happy to tell them. He laired in a cave up on a cliff face. The wizard could fly or teleport to reach it. Everybody else was going to have to climb. There were two other caves on the cliff face, one at ground level and another halfway up, but he never saw the wizard use these.

Frank asked how he had been able to operate in the swamp unnoticed so long, and Legeis shrugged. I'm a goblin; he doesn't see us as a threat, so he ignores what we're doing. He went on to explain he had only explored the lower cave so far, and only a hundred feet in. It was the lair of some strange monsters that resembled giant wolves with razored claws and spines down their back. He was pretty sure there was a way up inside the cave, but he couldn't get past the monsters inside.

She listened intently and wondered if he was right, and there was a way in through the lower cave. Surely a cave on the cliff face was secure, but the rogue didn't have magic to get himself in. They spoke for hours after the sun moved to its night position, and the stars hung high over the swamp. Legeis made a deal with them offering to help them recover the stone if they, in turn, helped him discover how the wizard was making the golems. Heather readily agreed, seeing no reason not to, and they settled in for the night.

Her dreams were peaceful for change as she walked through a garden made of high hedges blooming with roses. Ahead of her was a stone platform and on it a pedestal with a glass dome on top. She approached the dome with the sweet scent of roses in her nose, but just as she took a step into the clearing, a loud hum filled the air, and a green light shone from above.

I'm sorry, a man's voice said. I just wanted you to stay, but you chose to stand against me.

Heather saw the garden fade into blackness, leaving her only the strange hum.