Downtown Druid

Chapter 71: Dantes the Druid

Chapter 71: Dantes the Druid

Wayne brought down the axe with a grunt, taking a piece of the root that was attempting to sneak into the space closer to the maw. The root bled red, and began to shrink back. On either side of Wayne were other collared with axes. Theyd been pruning the garden back in shifts for days, but it was still spreading, and every few days someone else wouldnt return with the rest of the group.

Wayne took a few steps away from the hungry, twisting roots, and pulled a flask from his belt. He took a long sip of water. He knew that was all he was going to be able to have for the afternoon, but gods did it feel good to feel its chill spread through him.

Wayne! Good to see you alive, said Orebus, approaching from the tunnel behind along with three other men carrying crude axes.

Time for a shift change?

That, and Merle was looking for you. Lose anyone?

Wayne shook his head. No, it wasnt too bad this time. Maybe the Kobolds are getting the worst of it on their side.

Hope not. Theyve been the only ones really helping.

Wayne looked at a root trying to be subtle by wriggling across the ceiling. Care for a gamble? he asked Orebus.

Orebus laughed. You really miss that dice set you lost, eh?

You have no fucking idea.

He chuckled again, his muscles rippling as he did so. Whats the bet?

You and your boys will be pushed Wayne took Bluds old axe and carved a line near the center of the cavern they were in. Here, by the time we relieve you again.

Orebus scratched his chin. Whats the bet?

I still have a bit of the weed that Clay gave us for protection. How about you cover my shift tomorrow if Im wrong.

Orebus nodded and held out his hand. Deal.

Wayne shook the offered hand, then he and the men hed been with began their walk back toward the Undermarket, all three of them covered in sweat and exhausted. Wayne hoped he won that bet, he wanted a damn break, and unlike Merle and his closest followers, he didnt get some sick thrill out of sore muscles and an exhausted body.

The Undermarket was packed and miserable. It had the same stench that the Maw used to have on supply drop days. As the garden had spread it had forced more and more people toward the Maw, but not quite into the Maw itself. The tree hadnt shown any signs of eating anyone yet, but the red leaves on it matched the garden and people werent eager to test their luck. Not to mention the dozens of guards sitting up at the top of it with crossbows.

He walked through the tent and shack city to the old Consortium building that the Collared had taken when the majority of the small fucks hid in the deeper, smaller tunnels where they would be safe. Taking most of their supplies with them. He spared a hateful thought for Pillion whod disappeared with them. If he hadnt led them to the garden, if they hadnt started that fight and spilled all that blood at once well it was impossible to say that thats what had started the gardens violent spread, but the timing was certainly suspect.

The Collared guard pointed at him as he approached. Merle is looking for you.

Wayne sighed. Alright, alright. He just wanted to lay down a bit, maybe thumb through the old grimoire Tel had left to him. He found himself regretting his hesitation at climbing the tree for the hundredth time since Dantes had left.

He walked through to the conference room and stepped inside. He found himself walking into the middle of a conversation between Merle, Syn, Fel-Tak, and Iron. He stood awkwardly at the door until Merle silently signaled for him to take a seat behind him.

We will share our food supplies with those you leave behind. We can enter the garden unimpeded and gather fruit as we need. Or forage deeper in the Underprison. The garden has no interest in usour blood offends it. said Syn in the form of a dwarven woman in a leather vest and businesslike boots, her hair color shifting between black, gray, and purple as she spoke.

That should help those unable to climb. The cripples, the old, the weak, said Merle, gripping a piece of metal that he bent and unbent with each squeeze.

Iron snorted, adjusting his eyepatch with a three fingered hand. We should just distribute that food to everyone making the climb. Well need the fuel more than they will here.

Syn, no offense, but youre not the most trustworthy person, and youre clearly biased toward Dantes.

Syn didnt respond, but her eyes shifted to a stormy gray.

Ill heed your view on this in mind, but Id like to speak to my man alone.

Syn smiled and nodded, shifting into a Kobold as she left the room.

Merle sat there silently for a few moments, then he stood. Do you know why Im in this prison?

Uh Ive heard some rumors.

That I changed someone into a chicken and ate them?

Yes.

Well, that is what happened.

Wayne chuckled, before seeing Merles face and realizing he was completely serious. Really?

Yes. Wed had an argument, we were both professors on the Academy board and Id proposed softening the ranking exam. Changing it from a full week to just four days.

Wayne nodded. The ranking exam was the final test all students at the academy took. A full week in a room taking a series of magical exams. It was enchanted to make it so you needed no sleep, no sustenance, no physical relief, and the professors rotated constantly with different requirements. Your score determines your place in the academy or what youd be licensed to do outside of it. Wayne had performed thoroughly middling, but hed just been glad hed gotten through it at all. There were windows in that room, and magical nets for catching the students that jumped the nets didnt always work though. Four days would still be brutal, but by the fifth day it was really only a test of endurance, not actual skill or talent.

Why are you telling me this?

I want you to know that I dont regret it and I thought that he tasted delicious and had served a far better purpose in my stomach than he ever had in life.

Wayne simply sat there quietly. He doubted Merle was done talking.

What Im trying to say is it was perfectly justified to throw me down here. Hells, most of us deserved this punishment, but were all going to try and make the climb in two days because its not about what we deserve, its about what we want. Merle stood, the small chair hed been on creaking in relief as his weight was removed from it. Do you know what I want?

Another chicken?

Merle smiled. I want to get my people out of here, get these collars off of our necks, and cast spells again. More than that though, I want to make some changes in the city. Big changes. I think Dantes could be helpful there. A druid their powers are unique, largely unknown even in the academy. I know we have some people that would rather see him dead

You want me to persuade them.

That or tell me who they are so I can. Just among our own people. I dont expect us to soften anyone elses hearts on the matter.

I can do that.

Good. Now, if youll excuse me, Im going to see if theres anything heavy enough outside to give me a decent workout.

Wayne nodded, and then left the building. His stomach growling from the talk of chicken. He looked out over the huddled remnants and survivors in the Pit. Hed heard how theyd talked of Dantes since he left. He was spoken of alongside names like Gideon Gallant, Tristan Two-lives aThe Green Blight. Hed become a legend. Most called him Dantes the Deceiver, some called him the Climber or even the Destroyer. Only those who knew a thing or two about the world outside of Rendhold, a world where green was the dominant color instead of gray, and you were more likely to see tigers than stray cats, knew what his name should truly be. Dantes, the Druid.

END OF BOOK 1