The Bubbleship Series; The First Heroes

Tall Fey

She crashed to the floor of the cavern with a loud thud. “Damn,” she exclaimed. “Damn it all!”

The hellhound now gone, she looked around to see black stone aflame with dark flames. Only one opening in the room led to a pit in the next room. Kontessa got to her feet and lifted her cold iron sword high. Forbidden in hell, she knew it would cause trouble anywhere she was to go here. "I thought I was done with this place."

“Hello, daughter,” came a familiar voice from behind her. “Welcome home.”

“What am I doing in this accursed place, mother?

“You were summoned to explain the death of the demon lord you killed. You know what you did.”

The mother’s form became lovely as if in youth, beautiful and unbent by the torment caused by her daughter escaping hell. “Come back and end my misery,” pleaded the ghost of a demon in front of Kontessa.

"I cannot do that, mother," she answered. "You know this. How's father?"

"He is the one who tortures me; he misses you so dearly. He takes his passion for you that, as always, seems to be unreturned out on me. He desires you more than me, I think."

“That’s just too bad mother, how do I get back to my plane?”

“You must go through the trial by combat to atone for the destruction of the demon’s existence you ended.”

“Even though he deserved it. He r***d my body and mind; you know this to be true.”

“Nonetheless, he came to power under the rule of Amadeus, and you did it."

“Then bring it! Bring it on,” Kontessa shouted.

"He is here; your trial has begun. Please," her mother showed unusual compassion in just a few more words. "Find some peace."

The walls shook and sweat. Fire shot in through the only opening in the room. Kontessa knew there would be only one thing for it, and that was to go through the opening. So, she went. Three causeways stretched out before her in a parallel to each other. Fire and lava filled the pits in between the causeways.

Before her, on the middle causeway, the demon appeared with white skin, an albino with pink eyes. It leaped from the middle to the right-hand one and stalked forward, swinging his ax in a figure-eight motion. His shield at his side.

Kontessa moved forward on the left-hand causeway. Her sword in both hands.

The albino was giant, about a foot taller than her and broader at the shoulder, but she could take him, had to take him, or suffer under her father's desires for the rest of her existence.

The albino jumped to the middle causeway.

The causeway was about twenty feet wide.

Kontessa lept toward the albino with a sword raised over her head only to bring it down on the shield as she landed on the middle one.

Smash.

The albino swung with his ax, but Kontessa dodged it by jumping backward.

She swung sideways from the right only to be blocked by the shield again.

The albino spun with his ax this time, but Kontessa stepped back, and the ax missed again.

Now the albino swung again and let loose a flurry of swings in a figure-eight motion.

Kontessa backed up and around so she could retreat down the causeway toward the entrance she had come from.

Then Kontessa saw her chance; she took one long stride forward and caught the ax handle between her body and left arm. She punched the albino in the face with her right, filling his face with blood.

He staggered back, head lowered, blood pouring from his broken nose.

Kontessa did not hesitate to take the opportunity. She swung with all she was worth and sliced open the albino’s throat. More blood as the tip cut the first two inches of the albino’s throat. He dropped the ax, and his hand went to the cut trying in vain to staunch the flow but to no avail. He bled out.

Kontessa stood straight up for a few minutes, her breasts heaving, her sword at her side. Not sure what to do next, she stepped over the albino and went to the cave entrance where the albino entered from. The way seemed ill-lit, but her vision being that of a demon, it was plenty of light for her. The next thing she knew, she stood in another dark chamber with an albino female.

“You being here means my brother is dead,” she stated, laying back on the satin-covered bed. Everything in Kontessa screamed that it was a trap, but damn, look at those breasts. The black-skinned demon strode forward and put her knee on the bed to lay over the albino, put her hand over one firm breast to cup, and knead it.

A dagger appeared from beneath the sheets, cold brown-red iron only to have the wrist that held it grabbed. The albino did not put up much of a fight; she let the dagger drop.

Kontessa let the wrist go and took the back of the albino’s head to force her mouth to hers.

*****

Later.

Kontessa walked down the hill and came across a bright pool; looking into it, she saw the fairy queen Lensa wearing a dark expression. The black-skinned demon thought how unpleasant that expression was. Her sword at her hip, she dove into the water and swam toward the light. It seemed forever; her lungs seemed ready to burst.

Out she came gasping for breath.

She reached out and grabbed the side. The Queen was there and helped the demon crawl out.

“There are many worlds and many pools,” Lensa remarked. “How did you find this one.”

"I don't know; I think it was the brightest." Kontessa looked to her sword, knowing she would have to oil it, but that stuff would be in her saddlebags.

“Come,” said the Queen. “You must be going; another child will be taken soon. My pool is the reflection of many worlds, and some are ours in the different times." The fey queen led Kontessa out of the pool chamber. She flited in front of her toward the edge of the fey forest.

They reached the edge of the wood and waited for the Champion and the Friar on one horse, the friar's that the demon bought him in the city. Yes, a good horse that but at a high price.

“Be careful of the goblins, “Said Lensa as the Demon mounted her mare. "They are running wild in the forest to the north. Mayhap your hamlet is in trouble as well."

“We will deal with this when we get there,” said the friar. “I am so glad to see you, Kontessa Eldeman; I was distraught for a bit. The Queen told us of your trial. I knew you would do it; anyway, I hoped you could do it."

Kontessa smiled.  “Are you a virgin, Friar John?"

The friar laughed. "Yes, and for all your desirability, I am probably going to stay that way."

“If you two are done, we do have a way to go.” This came from the Champion.

***

The goblin camp sat in the valley below with about twenty of the little creatures in it. The three were about to go around, but Kontessa decided to scout out the situation and saw some people in the camp. They looked to be commoners from the village they just passed. Gutted that village being.

She crept back down the hill.

"We must take care of this," Kontessa said. "There are villagers from the place we just came through." She remembered the faces of the ones in that place and, for some reason, felt responsible for the rest in the goblin camp.

"Do we have any choice?" asked the scarlet fairy. "You're right. We must. Tonight, the moon is waxing, so there will be plenty of light. I'll go in and cut their bonds, and they can escape while I hold them off."

"Hold on, little fella. There's twenty of them." Kontessa laughed. “That's a lot of them, and you may need my help."

The friar laughed as well and climbed to peer over the edge of the hill.

***

Night came. The fairy and the demon climbed the hill to go over and down into the camp. The moon provided plenty of light for the two. It ruined the night vision of the goblins. That and the fires set around the camp for the watch.

The first goblin they came on, the fairy flitted up and sliced a small cut in its neck. It fell asleep.

The second fell asleep but the third being stationed with the sergeant was more alert due to the leader. He saw the fairy flit by the second and saw the second go down. And yelled. The camp became warned, and all of a sudden, the place was crawling with goblins.

 "Damn it," whispered Kontessa from the edge of the firelight. She ran back up the hill, thinking of the friar by the horses. That is when she saw that the fairy led the goblins over the hill to the east.

“Damn it,” she said again, this time upset with herself that she left the fairy, but somehow Kontessa felt a liking for the friar she could not explain. She stopped and stood up from the crouch she was running in. A preference for a man? She shook it off.

 Running now upright, Kontessa saw that one guard left behind. She pulled herself upright and slowed down. With a smile on her face, she approached. A stupid opened mouth expression came over his face as he saw the demon in her leather armor cut on the side.

“What,” she said.

“I...I...”

He said no more as the head left his shoulder.

The hostages' eyes all turned toward the demon, unsure whether they were saved or if they were thrown into the fire. She walked over quickly, not knowing when the fairy would return. "It's ok,” she said. “We’re going to get out of here. Just follow me.”

"Wait," said one of the men. "I want to fight. They have extra swords; there are six of us men."

“Aye, and I will fight if you put a sword in my hand.” one of the women spoke up, too.

The other affirmed her decision as well.

“Get the weapons, then. And get over the hill up there. I’ll get the children to safety.”

The fairy came back as the children ran over the hilltop. The adults hid over the edge of the hill, and Kontessa could see the heads and eyes of the men.

Over the other hill came the goblins, mad as hell as they charged down the slope cursing the fairy to all sorts of pain. They ran into the valley but pulled themselves up short when they realized the fairy had backup.

The demon charged, yelling at the top of her voice; the men and women charged as well. Down the hillside, they ran screaming for vengeance for the village plundered.

The goblins turned to run but soon fell to the fury of the men and women of the village.

***

They reached the hamlet of Torna, the name they had come up with while the friar was gone. The others, the ones rescued from the goblins, came. When told what happened, the hamlet took them to their homes and fed them. Kontessa caused quite a stir, but when the friar spoke up for her and told them she could help, they all went their way without question.

The village elders came.

Isun Meim, Eth Kor, and the woman Tuttle came forward to question the friar.

“What is the meaning of this, Friar John?”  Lei Chi asked.

"I have come with help for the children against the Fey tall elves. We can't face them alone, and I can't face them without this woman's help." Friar answered.

Eth Kor stepped forward from behind the woman.  “How is it she can help? Is she not unsavory in personality as well?”

"Unsavory! What have I been teaching you about the Lord Jesus to Christ?" Friar John became indignant. "Have I not told you of his love for the sinners of the worlds we live in? Do you think this world is so different from mine? In our legends, we had these things, such as goblins and Fairies; we had the tall elves. I pray to my God that he doesn’t hear your words when you speak against the help offered. And I pray to God that you don’t say these things to the good Fairy Champion when he comes. Now I understand why he waited. I’m done. Take this woman and feed her; we have had a long trip."

Kontessa stood dumbfounded and open-mouthed as the quiet little friar left to go where he went. Then a smile came to her face; wow was the only thing she could think. He really did it for her. This quiet little man just proved that he ruled here.

“Come,” said Lei Chi. “I’m sorry I doubted you. The friar is a good man, and he does well by us." she laughed quickly. "And his mead is tasty on the cold winter nights."

Lei Chi led Kontessa to a thatched-roofed home where the old woman there seemed hesitant as well. She offered warm bread for the demon’s delight. “Thank you, old mother,” said Kontessa.

The door opened, and in flew the fairy, scarlet of the wing. "I told you we'd have problems,” said SeaChil. "Humans are afraid of everything different. They tend to destroy anything they don't understand."

“Well, I don't think that way," said the old mother. "Now that I know there’s a new one with this demon, I feel much better. Many times, when I was a child, did I leave the bread and milk out for them.”

The fairy smiled. “If only we had that bread and milk now.”

***

The following day one of the children came into the village from the outlying forest. The friar was summoned as well as Kontessa and the fairy. When they arrived, they saw a bedraggled little girl of five.

"How did she get out?" asked the fairy. "Did no one watch this child?"

"Aye, I stayed up all night," said the father holding the girl. "All I know is I woke up this morning, and she wasn't there in her bed. I swear I didn't close my eyes all night."

“Well, you must have," yelled the mother running up to grab the child from the mother's arms. "I'm taking this one home."

“Wait.” said the fairy. "We must know where she went. From what I know of, the tall elves is that they lure the children to the mushroom rings. Where is that? Does anyone else know?"

They all knew nothing of mushroom rings.

“Then we must take this child with us to find this place so we can set up a trap for the tall elves,” said Kontessa.

Friar John came running into the hamlet from his home over the hill. He looked as if he had not slept all night, his eye showing this in their red glassiness. The child cried out for the friar, all the attention obviously scaring it.

"What happened," asked the friar.

“The child got out last night,” Kontessa said.

"Have no fear, Loris," the friar said, "the children will find a way if they are called. Come child, we'll get you home."

Wait, John, we must find this ring of mushrooms." stated the demon.

"You will not find it during the day, and you will not set any trap." Friar John motioned for the others to disband and took the child down the lane. "Come, we must get this child home and fed, good mother.'' He led the way, and both SeaChil and Kontessa followed him as he continued to explain. "If the fey tall elves call this child tonight, we will set a watch and follow the girl. We will not find them, but they will come to us then. I was young when this happened in my village, and the friar died because of his lack of faith. But he did not have a demon on his side.” They watched the child walk into the house with the mother.

***

Kontessa, the friar, and SeaChil sat in the dark by the light of the small fire in the old woman’s house with warm bread being made for their trek into the forest. The friar tore off a hunk of bread and dipped it in the terracotta bowl filled with honey, wishing he had a mug of mead. The Scarlet Fairy rested with his hands under his head and his wings laying behind him.

“Look,” Kontessa’s sharp eyes caught the slight movement of the little girl’s white linen dress flash in the moonlight. “There she goes.”

The friar woke the fairy by brushing him off the table and grabbed the torch to stick it in the fire. The yellow flame danced to life as the torch came alive. They walked out the front door and followed the little girl at a short distance.

She walked as if dazed, not noticing the light behind her. She climbed over a log, then ducked under a branch, and the journey began. The forest slowly turned from young saplings and new oak and yew. The ferns of the undergrowth started to thin and vanish too soon they were gone. Now all that stood were Tall oaks and yew that seem to fill the forest now with age. Oppressing age as if they had never been young.

They followed her into the night, and with the bright red sunlight filtering in through the trees, the group came to a stop. 

There, in front of them, stood dozens of tall elves. The little girl offered her doll to the one with brown skin and red hair standing in front of her.

“There’s that bastard,” Kontessa yelled. “There’s the one that tried to kill me.”

She jumped from behind the ancient oak, and the fey tall elves hissed and scratched as they ran pell-mell into the forest to disappear except for the one who tried to poison the demon.

All the friar heard, all that came to his ear were screeches, but the fairy and the demon listened to the words all too well.

"You have disturbed our hunt. Tonight, we will come for the girl and all other children in the hamlet, and all others will die."

Kontessa charged the fey, but from his fingertips, bolts of lightning flew. They slammed her back into the oak and knocked the breath from her.

The fey vanished in a wisp of smoke, and the little girl cried out for her doll. Kontessa got up and, with the other two, went to get the girl who stood in the middle of a perfect ring of mushrooms. The mushrooms still held a slight blue glow from the night. Kontessa stomped and scraped the magic mushrooms out of existence and into greasy spots.

Then the wolves howled, and it came from everywhere; none could be seen, but the three grabbed the girl and ran.