Dungeon Sniper

A bolt landed near Ramsis's feet. It was not Ross's fault this time. It was my shaky hands.

"I asked why, not for an apology."

If there was one thing I could not condone, it was a betrayal. If I had been mad at the Goblins for eating Humans and the Dwarves for trying to sell me over, I was beyond mad at this point.

I was seeing a former partner and best friend in Ramsis's stoic face.

Ramsis kept his tense mouth closed. At the same time, I heard a noise from the balcony's direction.

The guards had come for me.

"Get down, Beta. You lost. You never had a chance in the first place," said Ramsis.

The bolt was reloaded. My hands were shaking no more. The stupid face was staring up at the ceiling, with only some twenty-foot distance between us, an easy mark—

"Drop your weapon, Human."

I glanced sideways and saw that a half dozen Elf archers were pointing their arrows at me while protected behind large kite shields by the balcony.

I swallowed and aimed at Ramsis. Just a trigger away, one pull, and that was it—

Then an arrow struck me by the sidearm, with enough force to stagger my balance atop the narrow ceiling rafter.

I flailed and fell, headfirst.

[Secret Skill gained: Breakfall]

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"Just like you said, Alstair. You kill a few to save a lot."

The despicable voice woke me up. Then the pain that started from the arm spasmed across my entire body. I let out an involuntary groan.

I could not move my body. My hands were chained to the wall, and I was on my knees with spread arms inside a dark, damp prison. I was pretty sure my right shoulder was dislocated, but that was the least of my concern now.

"You're awake."

I turned to the frail voice and saw Alstair, pale and bruised, was tied to the chains in the same manner as I was.

And gazing at us with brooding eyes on the other side of the bar was Ramsis. My body jolted angrily at the sight of the traitor. The chains clanked and echoed helplessly in the cold, hollow cell.

"You must hate me right now. I understand," said Ramsis calmly.

"Hate? I'll kill you!" I cried like a beast. A wounded, chained beast.

Ramsis stared at me blankly for a second and resumed his monotonous announcement.

"The executions will be held at high noon, in front of every citizen of Deltaris."

"And the Humans?" asked Alstair with a cracked voice.

"They'll be there too."

"I meant, what's going to happen to them? To you? Ramsis, we had a chance. A chance to end Human slavery and bring peace and freedom that they deserved."

Alstair was breathing with difficulty. I saw with horror that he was kneeling on the pool of his own blood. The cut on the back was deep. He was trembling all over.

Ramsis stood silent. I looked between Alstair's wound and Ramsis's punchable face.

And I noticed the elephant in the room. Or her absence.

"Does Elysia know?" I asked abruptly.

That made Ramsis blink.

"What'd you do to her? Where is she right now?" I pressed on.

"Who's Elysia?" said Ramsis, avoiding my hateful gaze.

"Really? This is how you protect her? Plead ignorance?"

I figured Ramsis struck some deal with Oren in exchange for ratting us out. The safety of his lover, for instance.

"Ramsis. This is the wrong way to do it," Alstair shook his head weakly.

"No. This was the only way to do it," Ramsis bit his lips.

Again. That piteous, helpless look. The look of sincere stymie. I had fallen for that before. Not now.

"All that talk. That look on your face when you talked about the Humans suffering. Telling me to feel the anger, to share your anger. I've got to hand it to you, Ramsis. You're a f.u.c.k.i.n.g good actor."

"This is for the best."

"F.u.c.k you, Ramsis."

"At least tell Beta why he's locked up here next to me. He deserves to know. It's the least you can do," said Alstair, whose sanguine lips had turned sickly dark purple.

"Yeah, Ramsis, what the f.u.c.k did I do to deserve this? Why did I ever get into this mess?"

"For one, you were stupid enough to buy into a cause that, as you had said yourself, was none of your business."

"Sure. Call me stupid, snitch. I'd rather be dumb than be a backstabbing rat like yourself!"

Perhaps Ramsis was relieved to hear a direct, unbridled insult rather than appealing to his conscience. He broke a twisted grin that looked more sad than sinister.

"I do feel a little bad for dragging you into this, Beta. So I'll tell you the reason. The council, they already had the intel regarding the 'three' Runnels reported to be frequenting with the Reflux. Those three are Alstair, me... and you, as far as the 'new' intel is concerned. Oren' always wanted Alstair dead, and one Human Runnel in repentance with another executed for treason sends just the right message to the future generations, to make the right choice, so," shrugged Ramsis with forced nonchalance.

"So, to save Elysia."

"And more," said Ramsis dryly.

"Where is she right now?"

"Safe."

"And you're pretty sure she's going to love to hear how you saved her by betraying Alstair? You didn't just betray us, Ramsis. You betrayed her too."

"I did the right thing," swallowed Ramsis.

"Oh, f.u.c.k off, Romeo."

There was no way Ramsis understood the last reference, but I rattled him up well enough to stir some emotions under that apathetic, callous face.

"You don't understand, Beta. You're an outsider. You don't know what it's like to lose another family. To have another war that the Humans won't stand a chance in a million years."

"For the record, we'll never know whether the Humans stood a chance or not. In both cases, they were betrayed. Once by the Elves, the other by their own kind. So, congratulations, Ramsis, you not only made history, but repeated history. Have fun being remembered as the Human that Betrayed, the Pet of the Elves, or that Heroic Servant crap that your new master Oren was happy to call you."

I could have gone on more, if Ramsis had not snapped at that moment.

"You know what I just did? I just prevented a war. Those rat-eaters under the sewer would have brought this city down, and Alstair would have eventually helped them. And you, Beta. You sided with them from the start. So call me names all you want, but that doesn't change the fact that you're the one who got himself behind the bar, not me."

"You think you won, Ramsis? Living for the rest of your life watching your people live as slaves is a victory for you? Are you really going to tell me the fire I saw in your eyes, all that talk of liberation and freedom of your people, they were all lies? No one's that good of an actor, Ramsis. Come on. It's enough that you've lied to us, stop lying to yourself."

I could see Ramsis's eyes waver a little.

"You asked me whether I'd enjoy watching the Humans keep living as slaves?"

"You know the answer, Ramsis."

There was a hope. I knew I was not wrong to believe in Ramsis one last time—

"Still better than dead."

Ramsis turned his back and walked down the corridor. The exit opened and closed with an ominous creak and with a note of finality.

Everything was silent except Alstair's labored, shaky breathing.

I turned to Alstair and our eyes met.

"Forgive me, Beta. I'm sorry I dragged you into this."

Tears ran across Alstair's pale, bruised face.

"Yeah, well, Ramsis isn't wrong. It's my fault that I got into this mess."

"You did nothing wrong."

"I was stupid. That's what I did wrong."

"But you did the right—"

"Save it, Al. I don't want to hear it."

Both Alstair and I did not say anything for a while. Outside the small window by the ceiling, I could see that the daybreak was approaching.

"What do you think happened to Mosez and the others?" I asked to break the silence.

"Most likely tortured, and extorted, for more information, regarding the Reflux organization. The Elves, are meticulous in such, practices. I fear death, may only be a luxury for the poor, Humans. Especially when the one, who deserves it the least, gets to have it first."

What a weird thing to say, I thought.

Then I saw it. First, the head dropped, and then his body drooped dangerously, lifelessly low.

Alstair was dying. He had lost too much blood already.

"Shit. Alstair, stay with me. Don't you dare die on me right now."

"I'm sorry, Beta," muttered Alstair.

"Look at me. Keep your eyes open. Lift your head up."

"Venerable Velonis waits for me," said Alstair dreamily, his eyes closed peacefully.

"No! Tell her to wait more. Come back, Al! There's still hope."

But was there? I was saying things on top of my head, but the executions would be held in a few hours anyway.

I went through the list of Skills and Perks I had with me in a desperate search for anything that could help in this situation. I activated Canivore's Teeth to gnaw at the chains and break them. No success. With the bitter taste of metal still in my tongue, I put faith in my Miner's Shoulders and flailed my body to break the chains loose. Nothing. Feeling my dislocated shoulder got dislocated even more, I let out a Goblin Cry, hoping even for a passerby Goblin to come for rescue at this point.

I jumped, and I kicked, as Alstair's life was being drained away in each passing second.

"Al. Alstair. You still with me?"

Alstair did not move, but I could see him still breathing, barely and shallowly.

"Come on, dude. You promised to lecture me on the history of the Runnels, your second favorite subject to discuss. And I still don't know what your most favorite subject is."

All I could do at the moment was to keep Alstair awake. As long as I could.

"Velonis," muttered Alstair abruptly.

"No. Don't go near Velonis. Tell her to come get you some other time."

"Velonis. She is my favorite subject to lecture on," Alstair laughed weakly.

"Good. Tell me about her because I'm dying to know."

"And I'm actually dying," wheezed Alstair in a quasi-laughter.

"No. No, you're not. And that's a terrible joke. What you're doing is, you're lecturing. You're teaching me and I'm going to love it this time, so damn it you better not stop until I know everything. So, Velonis, is she a goddess for you people? Is she hot?"

There was a delay, a few more shallow breaths, but Alstair opened his mouth again.

"Beautiful, brave, the Elven heroine who Transcended to the next Level..."

"Oh, I'm hooked. Very interesting. Go on, Al. Don't stop now."

"... Always come to the rescue of her friends. Loyal. Determined. Righteous..."

Alstair went on painfully, almost as in a trance. Meanwhile, my eyes were fixed on his pale, moribund face, nodding and urging him to keep talking—

When I saw someone standing by the cell bar.

She was beautiful, and she had come to rescue her friends.

"Venerable Velonis," I swore at the true incarnate of the goddess.

Elysia opened the cell door with a set of keys, their metallic surface glistening with blood on them, and entered inside.

She unchained Alstair first, and then me.

"Sorry I could't find you earlier. I went all over the prison building, and then I heard your, scream," said Elysia.

"Yeah, I did that—"

I was about to break out a smile when I saw the tear marks on her flawless, porcelain-like cheeks. So I closed my mouth and stretched the sore body finally freed from the chains. Elysia saw that my shoulder was dislocated and promptly popped it back in.

"Ow."

"You're welcome. Grab Alstair. Gently. Let's get out of here."

"Wait," came the feeble voice.

Elysia and I stopped and stared at Alstair, sitting shakily with his back against the wall.

"I'm not going to make it," Alstair shook his head with a shadow of his usual smile.

"Shut up," then Elysia turned to me, "Ignore him. Grab—no wait, we'll carry him together. You get the right side," Elysia kneeled beside Alstair, trying to help him up.

"I have a favor to ask Beta," breathed Alstair.

"Don't just stand there! Help him up!" cried Elysia, tears flowing down.

"I'll do you as many favors as you want once we get out of here. Go on, grab my arm, buddy," I approached Alstair, but was pushed away weakly by the ashen Elf.

"About Velonis—"

"Al. You don't have to keep talking anymore. We got you. Have some shuteye while we ferry you out like you're in a limo. And I'll tell you what limousines are. I'll tell you everything, and you'll tell me everything. We'll take turns, and we'll have a blast together."

The prison was cold, but the sweat, it got into my eyes and now they stung like hell. The sweat did that.

Alstair was adamant, however. He kept pushing me away with his weak hands.

"I'll only be a burden."

"Then be a good burden and let us carry you!"

I reached and was trying to place my arms around Alstair's bloody, mutilated back. But it was Elysia this time, pulling me back, with a face... I did not know how to describe that look.

"Please. It won't take long," wheezed Alstair, but he went on with the few breaths that remained in him.

"Velonis had a gift, as did Benedikt, Rafaqa, Olothi, Laikaan, and—"

Alstair stopped talking for a moment. He fell sideways, but I was right there to grab him before he fell.

"—The gift of Critical Siphon, I suspect you have it too," Alstair finished his sentence with difficulty.

I did not know how or why Alstair was talking about this near his death, but I had no intention to lie to a dying Elf. A friend.

"I do."

Elysia started and looked at me with a complicated look on her face, but said nothing.

Alstair smiled with a nod that was barely noticeable.

"I knew it. Good. Now, Beta, I want you finish me off."

"Alstair, no."

"Please. Consider it... a farewell gift. An apology for all the trouble."

"No," I backed away, feeling my throat clogging up from the dust in the prison. The dust did that.

"Elysia, give him the dagger."

After a second of hesitation, Elysia drew out her dagger and handed it to me.

"I can't," I pulled my hands.

"Do it," it was Elysia who urged me. Her face was deathly and resolute, a fine marble statue with the cascade of tears running down the cheeks.

I grabbed the dagger uncertainly. I then lay Alstair on the floor. He had closed his eyes and was looking more peaceful than ever.

"Is it the same as the legends? Head for a Skill, heart for a Perk?"

"Yes," I said solemnly.

"Fascinating," smiled Alstair, "so which is it going to be? Your choice."

"The heart," I said through gritted teeth.

"Good. Good. The heart," sighed Alstair, and I sensed the end was almost here.

I drove the dagger deep into the c.h.e.s.t, but not before I caught Alstair's final, calm and articulate, "Goodbye."

The small window of the prison cell let in the day's light, blurring my vision. The light did that.

[Unique Perk gained: Elven Elegance - Scholar Scout]