Merchants of Death

Chapter 20

 

“NO!” Chrissy Lera shrieked in rage as she futilely pounded her fists on the place where the dimensional portal had once been, outraged at again being denied victory so close to her goal.

 

After the costly battle at the Imperious Industries weapons depot the universal travelers and their new allies had returned to Silverymoon with their dead.  Once Lady Alustriel Silverhand had made funeral arrangements for the men and women had who just died in her service she put together a new force to use against Imperious Industries.  This army was even smaller than the previous one and composed mainly of wizards and sorcerers, for Lady Alustriel had concluded that her warriors were all too vulnerable to the powerful guns and other weapons employed by Imperious Industries.

 

Then Chrissy Lera led She-Hulk, the Frost family, Storm, Mystique, and of course the High Mage and her army to the Imperious Industries portal facility on this world.

 

The whole process was remarkably fast, so that less than two days after the massacre at the weapons depot, the necromancer was leading her new allies to the portal facility that she had already devastated once.  Thinking that she now had the forces necessary to maintain control of it, and possibly even invade Dakar’s territory successfully.

 

But when they arrived there was no one there.

 

There wasn’t much of a building left there anymore either.  It appeared that the Imperious Industries people had blown up the structure before abandoning it.  Now all that remained was fragments of machinery, shards of concrete, and other wreckage covering a large area.

 

There was no portal facility left to capture, and Chrissy and the other magic users could detect no traces of the dimensional portal itself.  It appeared that they had been denied access to Imperious Dakar and his company.

 

Now that the dark elf necromancer realized that she would be denied her vengeance (and the chance to regain her kingdom) once again, she could not hold in her frustration.  Screaming in fury as she futilely struck the wreckage in anger, her black skinned form glowing with an eerie light as Chrissy’s mind and body unconsciously drew on the surrounding mystical forces.

 

Seemingly on the verge of a violent (and destructive) breakdown.

 

“Madam Lera you are a MONARCH….you have better self-control than this” High Mage Alustriel said severely, Alustriel’s diplomatic skills and experiences with Chrissy telling her that the best way to reach the elf woman was by appealing to her pride.

 

The people from Silverymoon and the universal travelers watched as the former dictator visibly got a grip on herself.  Then the dark elf said in a (mostly) normal voice “I am a president…not a queen.”

 

“Titles differ but the important thing is that the common folk are served” the High Mage replied diplomatically.

 

But Emma Frost, the new leader of the universal travelers, had other things on her mind as she said rudely “if you ladies are done discussing the virtues of authoritarianism I think we should talk about what this means for our joint campaign…it’s hard to attack something you can’t reach.”

 

A lot of the Spellguard present bristled at the way Emma Frost was addressing their beloved leader, but Alustriel quieted their angry muttering with a gesture.  Replying civilly to Emma as she said “that is something we shall have to discuss after we return to the city…there is nothing for us here.”

 

Emma Frost turned her attention to Chrissy Lera, expecting to see the proud elf woman glaring at her.  To Emma’s surprise Chrissy was staring at the universal travelers with a thoughtful expression, a look of open calculation on her pretty face.

 

~I don’t like the way she’s looking at us~ Sophie told her mother, and Emma Frost silently agreed.

 

*****

 

Marian Casta watched the return of the universal travelers and the Spellguard from a balcony of the High Palace.  Looking at the wizardly garb and magic weapons of the High Mage’s spell-casters as they marched through the street to the palace, Emma Frost and her people barely visible among the far more numerous sorcerers and wizards.

 

But the former vampire was more interested in her own friend, and she could just barely see the dark elf in the distance, walking beside the beautiful Lady Alustriel and seemingly engaged in an animated discussion with the High Mage.  It was hard to tell at this distance, but Marian thought the monarch seemed receptive to whatever Chrissy was saying.

 

The dark elf necromancer had apparently made new and powerful allies, perhaps even powerful enough to let Chrissy finally achieve the victory she wanted over Imperious Dakar.  Casta knew this was a good thing, which could lead to her and her lifelong friend regaining most of what they had lost at the hands of the technomancer.

 

Nevertheless, as Marian looked down at her all too human body, she couldn’t help feeling inadequate, as well as a spark of unusual jealousy.

 

*****

 

It wasn’t long before Chrissy Lera had reentered the High Palace and was embracing her best friend.  But Marian Casta’s hug in return seemed forced.

 

“What’s wrong Mary?” Chrissy asked as she ended the embrace, sensing that something was amiss.

 

“It’s…its nothing Chrissy” Marian said hesitantly, too embarrassed to admit her doubts and fears.

 

Chrissy looked into her human lover’s blue eyes as she reached out and gently cupped Marian’s cheek.  Saying with emotion “it’s far more than nothing if it bothers you.”

 

“I just feel…unneeded…you NEED powerful people like Silverhand to take on Dakar again…and I’m…not anymore” Marian confessed.

 

“I wouldn’t trade you for a DOZEN Lady Alustriels…she’s just an ally…you mean far more to me than that” Chrissy declared.  Adding force to her words by leaning forward and tenderly kissing Marian.

 

The servants who had been in the bedroom (either to clean or just to watch the unusual companions) accurately guessed that their presence was unwanted and left.  Leaving Chrissy and Marian alone in the bedroom.

 

Chrissy almost violently stripped off Marian’s clothes, eager to demonstrate her unshaken affection in the most basic way possible.  Then her hands stopped moving over the Frenchwoman’s body mid caress.

 

“What…what is it?” the blonde breathed, who had been quite caught up in the moment, and was puzzled by the sudden stop.

 

The truth was, Chrissy was caught off guard by the warmth of Marian’s body.  When it came to her friend, the necromancer was used to the cool flesh of a vampire.  Touching a human (living) Marian was still a bit of a novelty for Chrissy.

 

However, the dark elf was intelligent enough to know saying as much would be counterproductive.

 

“Nothing my love” Chrissy murmured before cupping a pale breast and lowering her head to it.  Fiercely suckling as her hands roamed over Marian’s voluptuous form.

 

“Ah oh yes” Marian moaned, marveling at how different making love as a human or vampire felt.  The principal difference being that lust no longer aroused her hunger for blood, which is what had usually happened during her centuries as a vampire (sometimes even when she had recently fed).

 

Now the former vampire could just focus on the carnal pleasures, something she was more than happy to do as she pulled Chrissy away from her breast and brought her lover’s face up for a kiss.  Sending her tongue deep into Chrissy’s mouth to reclaim the body she had come to know so well over the centuries.

 

Marian spent a long moment just kissing and caressing her lover.  Savoring every sensation as she remembered how it felt to make love as a human.  Her eager fingers lingering over all the curves of Chrissy’s shapely black body as her eyes focused on the elf woman’s beautiful coloring.

 

Lera ended the kiss and nipped Marian’s neck, forcing a giggle out of the taller woman as Marian recalled all the times she had bitten Chrissy’s neck to take her blood.

 

“My little predator” Marian said fondly as the elf continued to firmly kiss and lightly bite the flesh of her neck.  Something that would have driven the woman wild when she was still a vampire.

 

~Odd…I guess Mary’s neck isn’t such a sweet spot for her anymore~ Chrissy concluded, for once interested in giving a lover pleasure with no thought of receiving any.

 

“Lay on your back Mary” Chrissy commanded, her crimson eyes full of a promise that made the human woman feel deliciously weak in the knees.

 

The former vampire did as her friend asked, and then realized that Chrissy Lera was still fully clothed.  The white dress Chrissy was wearing displayed most of the shapely female’s feminine curves, but Marian still thought it was inappropriate for lovemaking.

 

“Take it all off” Marian said as she looked up at Chrissy Lera.

 

The elf woman smiled sensually in response as she lifted her dress and pulled it off, revealing a dark skinned form bare except for a white bra and lacy white underwear.

 

Marian stared at the beautiful black body she knew so well, appreciating the way that the white undergarments highlighted the curves of Chrissy’s bosom and bottom.  Thinking that you could find surprising good lingerie in Silverymoon.

 

“Mary” Chrissy moaned as she stared intently at the woman, her red eyes reflecting Marian’s own passion, never taking her gaze off the human as she removed her bra and carelessly threw it aside.

 

“I’ve always loved your breasts” Marian whispered as she reached up for the elfin orbs, Chrissy kneeling next to her in response so that the blonde woman could touch her.  Gasping in pleasure as her relatively large breasts were cupped and squeezed.

 

Then Marian grasped Chrissy’s slender hips and repositioned the dark elf so that she was sitting on the human’s stomach.  Chrissy let herself be moved, content for once to let someone else take charge.

 

Marian grinned as she felt the elf woman’s moist sex rub against her stomach.  Reassured by the physical proof that Chrissy still wanted her (even if she was ‘merely’ human now).

 

It gave Casta back some of her old confidence, as well as a bit of her deviltry and mischievousness.  An expression more like a leer than a smile crossed Marian’s face as she tried to move into a sitting position, knocking the smaller and lighter female on top of her back.  But Marian caught Chrissy before she could hit the floor, ending the elf’s look of surprise with a fierce kiss.

 

Then a pale hand pinched one of Chrissy’s big black nipples, while Marian’s other hand traveled down her body.  Pushing an index finger into Chrissy’s feminine portal without hesitation and savoring the dark elf’s surprised groan.

 

The groan turned into moans as the former vampire added another finger and pushed it into her lover’s needy cunt.  Kissing a long pointed ear as the elf woman gasped in pleasure, knowing that her companion was close to climaxing.

 

“Mine” Marian whispered as she pushed a third finger into Chrissy’s interior.

 

That was too much for Chrissy and the dark elf cried out as she hit her peak.  Surrendering herself to Marian in a way that she could to no one else.

 

*****

 

Marian Casta and Chrissy Lera made love for hours, exploring each others bodies in a way that they had not since Marian had taken Chrissy’s virginity centuries ago.  Now the willowy dark elf and voluptuous human simply cuddled on the floor, luxuriating in each others company.

 

Marian was laying flat on her back with Chrissy on top of the bigger woman.  The necromancer’s face all but hidden by her long silky white hair as she rested her head between Marian’s large breasts.

 

“I love you Mary” Chrissy said with a heartfelt murmur, feeling satisfied and content in a way that she hadn’t for a long time.

 

“I love you too Chrissy” Mary replied in a similar tone.  Then she said more firmly “that is why I am not letting you leave me behind when you go after Imperious Dakar again.”

 

The dark elf felt her contentment and satisfaction melting away as she heard the words, and Chrissy pulled away from her lover as she moved into a sitting position.

 

“Mary you’re not a vampire anymore…you could DIE…and you don’t like fighting anyway” Chrissy argued, horrified at the thought of her (all too vulnerable) lover dying on the field of battle.

 

Marian opened her mouth to say something but Chrissy interrupted her, saying “and I can’t change you back…we have no vampires left to transform you and the traces of The Phoenix’s power lingering in you prevent me from using a spell to turn you back into a vampire.”

 

Though Chrissy had done nothing to make her believe otherwise, this was the first time the necromancer had actually told Marian that she was stuck as a human for the foreseeable future.  The thought that she might be stuck as a mortal until she grew old and died hit the formerly ageless Marian hard, but she rallied almost at once.

 

“Maybe I am stuck as a human…but you still need someone you can truly trust when you go up against Imperious again…and except for me everyone like that is either dead or stuck in Iberia” Marian firmly stated.

 

Chrissy appeared uncharacteristically doubtful.  The truth was that even Marian found it virtually impossible to change the necromancer’s mind once she had made it up.  But Lera hadn’t this time.

 

Chrissy did not want to see her lover hurt (much less killed), something she considered all too likely if the mortal woman went into battle again.  Nevertheless the thought of leaving Marian behind was almost as painful, because she NEEDED the human woman.

 

She needed the insight of someone she respected and really trusted, she needed the presence of a loyal comrade on the battlefield, and perhaps most of all, Chrissy needed the companionship of her dearest friend and oldest lover in this trying time.

 

“IF you try leaving me behind again I’ll just follow you” Marian warned.

 

For one of the few times since becoming a necromancer, Chrissy Lera gave in, replying slowly “all right Mary…you can come…but you will have to take certain precautions.”

 

*****

 

If given the choice neither Cyclops nor Sage would have chosen to be buried in Silverymoon.  The former spy and student of Charles Xavier had no attachment to the city-state and would almost certainly have preferred to have been buried on the Earth of their birth (though the ever pragmatic Sage might have told her comrades to dispose of her remains in the most efficient way if they had ever asked her about potential funeral arrangements).

 

But the universal travelers had no way of getting Sage and Cyclops to their home world, and it wasn’t feasible to take Scott and Tessa’s bodies with them until they got back to Earth (which might not be for a long time).  So Lady Alustriel Silverhand had allowed Cyclops and Sage to be buried with full military honors in a graveyard for soldiers who had fallen in the line of duty (protecting Silverymoon).

 

The High Mage herself was conducting the funeral ceremony.  Looking dignified yet beautiful in a conservative dress (that nevertheless flattered her fine figure) as she stood on a raised platform before the new graves.  Speaking in an honest yet complimentary way about fallen allies she had known only briefly.

 

“I did not know Scott Summers or Lady Tessa long but from what I saw they were honorable folk…their actions as they fought beside the forces of Silverymoon saved the lives of many of our brave soldiers and mages…as such this great city owes them a debt of gratitude…more importantly the loss of people like that is a blow to all goodly folk…it is up to us and the good gods to ensure that they did not die in vain.”

 

Many of those attending the small funeral found themselves touched by Lady Alustriel’s words, either because they found truth in what she said, or simply because they were affected by the Chosen’s supernatural charisma.  But the universal travelers drew no comfort from the High Mage’s words.

 

Emma Frost felt numb, still somewhat in shock over the revelation that The Phoenix had made her stop loving Scott Summers, not sure that she could trust any of her own feelings towards the late Cyclops anymore.  While her daughters were preoccupied with worry for their mother and anxiety regarding what was to come.

 

She-Hulk wept openly, for even though she had not been particularly close to Tessa or Scott the green skinned woman had still considered them friends, and their loss hit her hard.  Especially since Jennifer Walters held herself partly to blame for their deaths, due to her inaction during the crucial battle.

 

But Storm’s grief was beyond tears.  Ororo Munroe had loved Scott Summers so his loss was very painful for the weather witch.  Yet at same time she hated him, because she knew that her feelings of love were not (in a sense) real.  Filled with conflicting emotions as she watched the bodies of Scott and Tessa being put into the ground.  The pure sorrow Storm felt at the loss of Sage in stark contrast to the mixed feelings she had towards Cyclops.

 

Other than the universal travelers and Lady Alustriel herself the only ones at the funeral were a few Knights in Silver and Spellguard people who had participated in the recent battle and felt that they owed their lives to the deceased and their comrades in some way.  Paying their respects the only way that they could at this point.  But some of the universal travelers considered it a very poor showing given all the people that Tessa and Cyclops had helped over the course of their lives.

 

However, Mystique felt very differently.  She had known Scott and Tessa as enemies for too long (and was too hardened) to truly mourn their loss.  So the mutant shapeshifter left the funeral as soon as she decently could (or perhaps a little sooner).

 

*****

 

“Greetings Mystique…I am afraid that we have never been formally introduced…I am President Chrissy Lera.”

 

The shapeshifter had taken the form of a servant girl and had been walking throughout the High Palace since leaving the funeral.  Wandering through the palace as much to see which areas had magic that would force her to assume her true form (like the throne room) more than anything else, being deeply suspicious and fearful of anything that restricted her to one form.

 

Mystique had encountered the necromancer in one of the many hallways in the High Palace and had decided to maintain her cover.  Curious as to how the imperious dark elf would treat a ‘simple servant girl.’  But for whatever reason Mystique’s disguise had not fooled Chrissy at all.

 

“What do you want?” Mystique asked as she assumed her true form.  Her flesh reshaping itself in a way that many people had found unsettling the first time they saw it.

 

“Straight to the point…excellent…I only hope that you are as efficient in all things” Chrissy replied.

 

“Thank you for the compliment…but you still haven’t answered my question” Mystique said coolly.

 

“I understand that you have worked as a spy and assassin” Chrissy said, her words coming out more as a statement than a question.

 

“Yes…it’s something I have a talent for” Mystique answered matter-of-factly.

 

“Good…because I want to hire you to assassinate something” the necromancer replied calmly.  Not believing that the target she had in mind deserved to be referred to as a person.

 

“I’m not just some common thug” Mystique said irritably.

 

“Nor would you be paid like one” Chrissy said with a politician’s smile as she pulled something out of the long white robe she was wearing.  Then she held it out for Mystique to see.

 

“What is that?” the mutant asked as she looked at the slender silver chain Chrissy was showing her.

 

“it is a chain made of pure silver…it is also enchanted to hide and protect the mind of the wearer from all telepathic and magical powers…considering your recent experiences I thought that you would be able to appreciate such a thing’s value” Chrissy explained before tossing it to Mystique, who caught the chain automatically.

 

“So you will give me this if I kill the target for you?” Mystique guessed as she examined the seemingly ordinary chain.  Thinking about how useful such an artifact would have been during the battle at the Imperious Industries weapons depot.

 

“Yes…I will also give you money, precious metals, or even real estate if you want it once I return to Iberian territory…all I ask is that you eliminate the target” Chrissy firmly stated.

 

“Whose the target?” Mystique asked, finding herself intrigued by the offer.  Though she was cynical enough to suspect that there was some sort of horrible catch.

 

The necromancer extended a slender black arm and raised her hand.  Then a three dimensional image appeared as though it were standing on the palm of her hand.  It looked like a frail blonde Caucasian woman, shifting to the image of a much bigger humanoid dog a moment later.

 

“A woman…and I use the term loosely…known as Susan Zweller” Chrissy said with loathing in her voice.

 

“Why do you want her dead?” Mystique asked curiously.

 

“She works for Imperious Dakar…more importantly she raped and tortured the woman that I love” Chrissy coldly explained.

 

Mystique seemed to think it over for a second.

 

“Assuming that everything thing you’re telling me is true…I think that we have a deal” the blue skinned woman said as she extended her hand. 

 

As the necromancer and the shapeshifter shook hands Mystique wondered if she had found a replacement for Sage in the ruthless dark elf, while Chrissy’s thoughts were purely of vengeance.

 

*****

 

Lady Alustriel Silverhand thought that she could put it off no longer.  The High Mage had to deal with the goblin tribe Knights Bane.

Lady Alustriel had certainly not feared the goblins or the consequences of punishing them, but more important matters kept demanding her attention ever since the goblin tribe had been brought to her.  However, the High Mage felt that justice needed to be seen as swift and sure in Silverymoon, so she could not delay sentencing the tribe that had raided nearby settlements, destroyed merchant caravans, and even wiped out an elite unit of Knights in Silver cavalry, any longer.

 

So now the Lady of Silverymoon was seated on her throne, with the few surviving members of Knights Bane standing (in chains) before her.  The dirty little goblins and their ragged clothing were in sharp contrast to the opulence of the High Mage’s throne room or the shiny armor and rich robes of the Spellguard and Knights in Silver attending the sentencing (the goblins guilt was obvious and magically confirmed, so there was no need for a trial).

 

These soldiers and mages looked on the cowering goblins with contempt, the creatures’ obvious terror appearing to confirm their prejudices regarding goblins.  Convinced that the goblins victory over the famous paladin Sir Galahad Evernear and his unit Silverymoon’s Fist had to be nothing more than a fluke.

 

But unlike the rest of his tribe, chief Slygrin defied these expectations and prejudices.  Like his fellow goblins he was very short, but his body was covered in thick muscles and obviously strong.  More importantly, he did not cower before Alustriel and her followers like the rest of his tribe.  Instead, Slygrin stood proudly and glared at the High Mage.  The effect of Lady Alustriel’s beauty, magical charisma, and even power over him all but insignificant next to the strength of his rage.

 

As the Chosen of Mystra looked into the angry face of the goblin chief, she had to admit that she had seldom seen a gaze so full of hate, even when confronting creatures from the Abyss or the Nine Hells.

 

Alustriel thought of the paladin that this unusual goblin had killed, Sir Galahad, a soldier who had become almost obsessed with her after being invited to his Lady’s bed for one night.  Convinced that if he could just prove himself in some way the High Mage would swear off all other lovers and name him her consort.

 

In truth, Lady Alustriel had found his behavior irritating, and as a result she had continually sent Sir Galahad and his men on missions that would take the paladin far from her court.  Silverymoon’s Fist had been on such a mission when they were killed, and Alustriel felt guilty for the part she had played (however indirect or small) in their deaths.

 

“Have you nothing to say in your own defense?” Lady Alustriel coldly addressed the goblins.

 

Most of the goblins said nothing, too frightened to even look the great woman in the eyes, knowing that they were probably doomed.  But Slygrin found the knowledge of his own impending doom strangely liberating.  It meant that he didn’t have to worry about dying anymore.

 

“Fuck you bitch.”

 

There were collective gasps around the room, no one (especially not a creature like a goblin) talked to Lady Alustriel like that. 

 

Alustriel was a little surprised herself, but fortunately she remembered that she was not always in charge, and had not become consumed by egomania the way that so many other monarchs had.  Keeping her tone civil (though icy) as she replied “I beg your pardon?”

 

“There is no defense…you will kill me and my tribe just for being goblins…so why shouldn’t we kill every human, elf, and damn dwarf we come across…it’s what ya do to us” Slygrin said bitterly, as he stared at the mighty sorceress who in so many ways represented everything that he most hated.

 

Many of the watching mages and soldiers stared at the goblin chief in surprise.  Moved less by his actual words than by the fact it was a ‘mere’ goblin talking so eloquently.

 

“Perhaps…but regardless of how fairly or unfairly your people are treated throughout the realms this is not about your status as goblins…this is about the way that your tribe has been robbing and terrorizing the good folk of the Silver Marches” the High Mage calmly replied.

 

“Bullshit…you treated the orcs like SHIT until King Obould got strong enough to make you stop…when it comes right down to it all humans really give a damn about is power” Slygrin declared.

 

His words were too much for the one of the Lady Alustriel’s bodyguards, and the loyal young warrior stepped forward to hit Slygrin with his ceremonial spear.  The blow knocked the goblin off his feet, and the human warrior towered over him as he said “filthy animal…how dare you address the Lady that way.”

 

Slygrin simply smiled in a way that showed how he got his name as he looked up at the human.  The truth was that the people who had bound him and the rest of his tribe had not done a very good job (probably because they didn’t take goblins seriously).  Slygrin had almost wriggled his arms free of the chains, and once he did he had some very nasty ideas in mind regarding this eager young warrior.

 

“Enough Theodore…we have nothing to fear from his words…let chief Slygrin speak” Alustriel commanded.

 

“As you wish my Lady” Theodore loyally replied as he stepped away from the goblin chief, though he continued to glare at Slygrin.

 

“Do you or any of your people feel any remorse for your actions Slygrin?” the High Mage asked the goblins.

 

Many of the goblins looked like they were about to speak, ready to say that they were sorry and throw themselves on the mercy of the High Mage (assuming that she had any for goblin bandits).  But their leader (who knew the weaknesses of his people all too well) silenced them all with a furious glare.

 

“No...we have nothing to be sorry for” Slygrin said defiantly.

 

“Very well…then with the power invested in me by the goddess Mystra and the good people of Silverymoon I sentence you all to be hung until dead…take them away” Alustriel commanded.

 

At these words most of the goblins cried out, their leader’s hold over them evaporating as the High Mage pronounced their doom.  Many of them desperately tried to flee, while others simply fell to their knees and begged the High Mage for mercy.  In the confusion Slygrin was able to make his move, wriggling his arms free of his chains as the guards focused on the goblins trying to escape the throne room.

 

But Slygrin was not interested in mere escape.

 

The remarkably strong goblin leapt upon the soldier who had struck him, punching him in the throat with the full force of his body behind the blow.  Theodore had been busy trying to restrain two other goblins when Slygrin attacked him, so the young warrior could do little but make choking noises and stare at the goblin in disbelief as his windpipe was crushed.

 

The chief snatched up Theodore’s spear just as it fell out of the dying soldier’s hand.  Whipping around in one quick movement to aim the weapon at the High Mage.

 

Lady Alustriel Silverhand symbolized the power and majesty of human civilization in the region to many people.  As Slygrin threw his spear he was deliberately striking out at that symbol, knowing that his death was inevitable at this point, but that it would have meaning if he could take Alustriel with him.

 

The spear flew straight towards the High Mage, powered by the strength of Slygrin’s deep resentment and anger, striking with enough force to fell an orc five times Alustriel’s size.

 

And achieving nothing as it hit an invisible barrier about a foot from the Chosen, the protective magic surrounding the ruler easily blocking such a mundane attack.  The spear falling harmlessly to the ground a moment later.

 

This direct assault upon their beloved leader outraged all the Spellguard and Knights in Silver present.  As the goblin chief stared at the unharmed High Mage in horror and disbelief the two soldiers closest to him stabbed Slygrin in the stomach and back simultaneously.

 

Slygrin groaned in pain as his blood spilled onto the floor, his vision going dim as his body shut down, and as the goblin chief died he realized the painful truth.

 

For all his victories, grand dreams, and delusions, in the end, Slygrin was just a bandit.

 

*****

 

After the soldier Theodore had been revived (a trivial matter among so many powerful mages) and the surviving members of Knights Bane had been taken away to be executed, the High Mage had summoned the universal travelers, Chrissy Lera, and Drizzt Do’Urden to her throne room.

 

Now that the allies could no longer attack their mutual foe Imperious Industries directly, they needed to decide what to do.  For Silverymoon at least, this battle might be over.

 

“My valiant knights are hunting down whatever Imperious Industries forces remain in the region…but at this point it appears that the company has abandoned Toril” Lady Alustriel explained to her allies.

 

“Imperious Industries WILL come back…this world has too many valuable resources for Dakar to ignore it indefinitely” Chrissy imperiously stated.

 

“Perhaps…but Silverymoon has plenty of enemies closer to home to worry about” Alustriel replied as she thought about the neighboring orc kingdom of Many-Arrows, which was now better armed (and therefore more dangerous) thanks to Imperious Industries.

 

“Do not underestimate Imperious Dakar and Selene…they overthrew me and they will do the same to you if given the chance” the necromancer warned.  Though in reality she had no idea whether or not the technomancer and the ancient witch would be interested in taking over Alustriel’s kingdom.

 

Alustriel privately doubted that she would be as easy to overthrow as the crazy necromancer, but she knew better than to get royal pride involved in this sort of discussion, saying only “I appreciate your concern.”

 

The ranger Drizzt watched Chrissy closely as the necromancer restated her belief that Silverymoon had to remain on the offensive against Imperious Industries.

 

The truth was, Drizzt wasn’t quite sure what to make of his fellow dark elf.  Her great pride reminded him of the arrogant and cruel drow females that dominated the city of his birth, but her obvious love for a human woman was very unlike the dark elf women he had known.

 

For someone who always strove for moral perfection in action (and to a lesser extent thought) this kind of ambiguity was very unsettling.  But as Drizzt looked at the beautiful and unusual elf woman he was certain of one thing.

 

Chrissy Lera was dangerous.

 

“I have never met Imperious Dakar but I know Selene…she can be subtle but in the end she always tries to dominate and control everything around her…if you have something she wants its only a matter of time until she tries to take it by tricky or force” Emma Frost explained, as she thought of the time when she and Selene were both members of the Hellfire Club.

 

Lady Alustriel looked around the throne room as she considered the issue.

 

Where people were standing oddly mirrored their relationships to one another.

 

The Knights in Silver and Spellguard in the room were standing up against the walls, a ring of support for their Lady.  Drizzt stood near the throne, his proximity to the High Mage symbolizing the closeness and loyalty he felt for Alustriel.  The members of the universal travelers stood more or less together, illustrating their distinct identity as a group.  While Chrissy stood off to the side, showing how alone she was in this (to her) strange land.

 

~If we are to defeat such potent foes we must work together better than this~ Lady Alustriel thought as she contemplated the divisions among the allies.

 

“There must be justice for our fallen comrades” Storm told the High Mage.

 

“True….but more than that Imperious Industries has shown itself to be a threat that we cannot ignore…even with surprise on our side they still all but annihilated the forces we sent against them…we cannot afford to let them regain the initiative” Drizzt replied.

 

Lady Alustriel stared at the ranger as she considered what he had just said.  Knowing that she could not afford to ignore his words.

 

Drizzt was naïve and somewhat ignorant (at least compared to Alustriel) but the High Mage knew that he had the instincts of a true warrior when it came to evaluating threats.  So that if Drizzt said that Imperious Industries was a grave threat, she should probably treat it as such.

 

“We probably should attack Imperious Industries again but we cannot reach their worlds” Lady Alustriel reminded her allies.

 

Chrissy Lera thought about some of the things she had learned regarding magic in this world.  She didn’t understand it all yet, but some of that new knowledge definitely applied to this situation.

 

“So you would attack our common enemy again if we could reach him?” the necromancer demanded of the High Mage.

 

“Yes of course.”

 

“Then the solution is obvious…we simply need to make our own portal to my world” Chrissy went on with a smirk, knowing that the magic for such an undertaking existed on this world.