Dungeon Champions

I’d never been so happy to see a town I’d never been to in my life.

Lans was another port town, a little bigger than Boulibar Bay. It sat pressed against a giant bluff that overlooked the ocean, its buildings a hodgepodge of weathered stone and salt-stained wood. The town seemed to grow organically from the landscape, with winding streets that climbed the steep incline like scattered rope.

As we approached, I could see the warm twinkling lights of homes built into the side of the sheer cliff. Windows and balconies jutted out at precarious angles, with rope bridges and narrow wooden walkways connecting them.

A wave of relief washed over me.

After the past two days, seeing normal people going about their normal lives, living in complete bliss without the knowledge of what almost befell them… It was calming. Lans looked like a beacon of safety.

But I knew better than to let my guard down completely.

I gathered my team for a huddle, including both Captain Drake and Ulene. As I talked, I attached Skullie to his new holster.

“This is almost over,” I said, trying to make myself seem as calm as I could, “but we still need to get these artifacts and elementals secured as quickly and quietly as possible.”

Zuri nodded, giving me a thoughtful look. “I’ve been thinking about that. Maybe we should split up—one group handles the cargo while the others run interference with the port authorities.”

“Good idea,” I agreed. “Merielle, you and Britney head to the harbormaster’s office. Use whatever charms or bureaucratic know-how you have to keep them busy and away from the ship. Nym and Sadie, you’re with me, Zuri, and Skullie—we will oversee the unloading.”

“What about me?” Ulene asked, visibly eager to contribute.

“You can come with the rest of us, in case unloading becomes…a problem.”

She flashed me a warm smile. “Perfect.”

Captain Drake cleared his throat. “And what about me and my crew?”

“Act normal.” I turned, looking at men we’d come to know and, to an extent, bond with over the past few days. “Keep them quiet and calm. The less attention we draw, the better.”

As we approached the harbor, I could see the busy docks teeming with activity. Ships of all sizes were moored, their crews bustling about, loading and unloading cargo. The air was filled with the shouts of sailors, the cries of gulls, and the creaking of wood.

“Let’s do this quickly and quietly,” I said as we approached the pier. “Remember, we’re just another merchant ship with ordinary cargo.”

Merielle and Britney disembarked first, making their way towards the harbormaster’s office with purposeful strides. I watched them go, hoping their charm and quick wits would be enough to keep the officials distracted.

Once the ship was securely moored, I led my group down the gangplank. Zuri and I took point, with Nym and Sadie flanking us. Ulene brought up the rear.

We made our way down the dock and I kept my eyes peeled for any signs of trouble. The bustle of the port provided good cover, but it also meant there were plenty of places for enemies to hide.

Only a dead man would assume those who attacked us would be the last we’d see of the Trade Regulation Bureau.

“Skullie,” I said, “can you sense anything off?”

My familiar’s skull rattled against my pack. “Nothing obvious. But there’s a lot of magical energy here. It’s difficult to pinpoint anything specific.”

That didn’t surprise me. A port town in the Fae Wilds was bound to be awash in magical energies.

We reached the cargo hold and began the delicate process of unloading the crates containing the elemental spheres and artifacts. As we moved them, I made sure all signs of Nym’s chalk symbols were gone. I had Nym and Sadie stand guard while Zuri and I carefully maneuvered each crate onto a narrow cart.

Ulene hovered nearby. Those stunning blue eyes moved constantly, never resting anywhere for more than a breath. I could feel the tension radiating off her in waves.

“Easy,” I said. “We’re almost done.”

She nodded tightly but didn’t relax. I couldn’t blame her—after being imprisoned for who knows how long, I’d be on edge too.

When we loaded the last crate, I heard a commotion from the direction of the harbormaster’s office. Merielle’s voice carried across the dock, raised in what sounded like indignation.

“I assure you, sir, our paperwork is in perfect order! If you would just take a moment to review it properly, you’d see everything is above board!”

I exchanged a glance with Zuri. Merielle was laying it on thick, which likely meant we needed to hurry.

“Let’s move,” I said. “Nym and Sadie, take point. Zuri and I will guide the cart. Ulene, watch our backs.”

We set off down the dock, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible with our precious cargo. The bustling activity of the port worked in our favor, allowing us to blend in with the crowd of merchants and dockworkers.

As we neared the end of the dock, I spotted a group of official-looking men in Trade Regulation Bureau uniforms heading our way.

“Trouble up ahead,” I murmured to the others. “Ulene, can you provide a distraction?”

The elemental nodded. With a subtle gesture, she summoned a gust of wind that sent several stacks of crates toppling over right in front of the approaching officials. In the ensuing chaos of shouts and scrambling dockworkers, we slipped past unnoticed.

We made our way into the winding streets of Lans, the cart’s wheels clattering on the cobblestones. The uphill climb was strenuous, but we pushed on anyway. We couldn’t afford to slow down. Getting caught wasn’t an option.

I sent quick messages to Merielle and Britney as we walked, letting them know we were on the move, and to make sure they were okay. They were. Neither was happy about being separated from the rest of us, but said they’d wait for further instructions.

Well, Merielle said that. Britney said she was on her way, but I told her that was a bad idea and to stay put.

“Where exactly are we taking these?” Zuri asked between labored breaths as we climbed a particularly steep incline.

I hesitated. In the rush to get off the ship, I realized we hadn’t actually discussed our final destination. “Uh…good question.”

Ulene scoffed. “You mean to tell me you don’t have a plan beyond getting out of that floating prison?”

“Hey, give me a break,” I said, shooting the elemental a sour look. “I’ve been a little busy trying to keep us all alive and out of chains.”

Nym’s ears perked up. “What about the local mayor’s office? They should have someplace secure to store powerful artifacts. And if the corruption is just with the Trade Regulation Bureau, the mayor should be hopefully safe.”

The unspoken “maybe” hung heavy between us. It was entirely possible the leadership of this town could be corrupt, but we had no way of knowing before we stumbled into a bad situation.

We just had to trust—both the integrity of Lans’s leadership, and also in ourselves. If something bad happened, we’d just need to improvise and get ourselves out of it.

“Good thinking, Nym.” I said, finally. “Anyone know where to find it?”

Ulene looked at me like I’d grown a second head. Zuri shrugged, Sadie gave a grumpy meow from her perch on Nym’s shoulder, and Nym herself looked unsure.

Skullie spoke up from his spot on my pack. “Up,” he said. “Most important buildings tend to be at the top in places like this. Harder to siege.”

“Are you certain?”

“Nope.”

I didn’t like it, but it was all we had.

We continued our trek, hoping we could find where we were going. The narrow, winding streets made our progress slow. I could feel tension building in my shoulders and in my jaw.

Every passing minute increased the risk of discovery.

And everything felt like a threat.

At one point, we spotted a group of guards patrolling ahead. Their uniforms marked them as local law rather than Trade Regulation Bureau goons, and their pace was languid. But it could easily be a trap, and I didn’t want to risk being caught.

“Turn down this side street,” I said to my companions.

We moved as naturally as we could, even though the little cart didn’t want to make the sharp turn at first.

One of the guards caught my eye and I gave him a thin smile and a raised hand in hurried acknowledgement before returning my attention to the cart.

They didn’t pay us any mind, otherwise.

“Can we take five?” Nym said, leaning against the cart. “I’m tired.”

“Me too. But we’re almost there.” I gave the catgirl a quick pet between the ears. “Five more minutes and then we can rest.”

We struggled to turn the cart around and get back out onto the street. The guards were long gone by the time we did so, allowing us to continue our climb. There were clear signs we were approaching our destination. The buildings grew grander as we went higher, with ornate facades and colorful banners fluttering in the sea breeze.

Finally, we reached what appeared to be the town square. A large, imposing building dominated one side, its white stone gleaming in the late afternoon sun. Out front, a sign proclaimed it to be the Mayor’s Office and Town Hall.

“That looks like our stop,” I said, eyeing the building. “Now we just need to figure out how to get an audience without raising suspicion.”

Before we could formulate a plan, the doors of the town hall burst open. A harried-looking elf man in official robes hurried down the steps, flanked by several guards. His eyes went wide as he spotted us and our cart full of mysterious crates.

“You there!” he called out. “Are you the ones bringing the special delivery?”

I exchanged a quick glance with Zuri, trying to keep my expression neutral.

This could either be a stroke of luck or a disaster waiting to happen.

“That depends,” I said carefully. “Who’s asking?”

The man drew himself up importantly. “I am Mayor Khatar of Lans. We received word that a shipment of great importance was arriving today from Boulibar Bay, though the details were…vague.”

“Who told you it was coming?”

“Agent Kieran of the Trade Regulation Bureau.”

That name again. I weighed our options rapidly. Claiming to be the expected delivery might get us inside without a fuss, but if this were a trap, we’d be walking right into it. On the other hand, denying it could raise suspicions we couldn’t afford.

I decided to take a calculated risk.

“Yes, sir,” I said with a respectful nod. “We have a delivery of utmost importance and security. However, given the sensitive nature of the cargo, we were instructed to speak only with the mayor directly…and only in private.”

Mayor Khatar’s eyebrows shot up toward his mop of white hair. “Let it not be said that Kieran isn’t bold.” He fussed for a moment, looking at his guards. “Fine. Follow me, please. We can discuss this in my office.”

As we followed the mayor up the steps, I caught Ulene’s eye and gave her a subtle nod. If this went south, we might need her powers as a quick escape route.

The interior of the town hall was grand, with polished stone floors and high, vaulted ceilings. Paintings of past mayors and notable town events lined the walls. There was an ambiance to the place that spoke of lots of money exchanging hands, which didn’t make me feel great about my decision.

I was just glad our little cart wasn’t leaving marks on the floor. Either it was enchanted in some way, or we had the cleanest wheels the Fae Wilds had ever seen.

Mayor Khatar led us to a large wooden door at the end of a long hallway. He dismissed his guards with a wave, then ushered us into his office.

The room was spacious and well-appointed, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lining the walls and a grand desk dominating the center. Large windows offered a breathtaking view of the harbor far below.

We wheeled the cart inside and shut the door behind us.

Nym let out a small sigh of relief and I motioned to one of the two chairs in front of the mayor’s desk. She quietly took it, holding Sadie in her lap. Zuri offered the other to Ulene with a wave of her hand, and the elemental begrudgingly took it. I stood just off to the left of Nym’s chair, and Zuri took up position to the right of Ulene.

It took everything I had not to grab her hand, both to seek comfort and give it.

“Now then,” the mayor said, clearing his throat as he settled into the high-backed chair behind his desk. He smoothed his wild hair back from his temples before adjusting the collar of his robes. “What exactly is this delivery? I must admit, the message I received was frustratingly vague. Agent Kieran is not a verbose woman.”

I exchanged a look with Zuri. The subtle nod she gave me was enough to let me know she trusted me.

“What I’m about to tell you is highly sensitive information,” I said. Resting one hand on the back of Nym’s chair, I tried to take on a casual stance. “I need your assurance that what’s said in this room will remain confidential.”

Mayor Khatar’s eyes narrowed. “I do not like promising silence,” he said in a wary tone. “But if Senior Agent Kieran demands it, you have my word.”

Taking a deep breath, I launched into an abbreviated version of our journey, explaining about the elemental spheres and artifacts, the attacks we’d faced, and our suspicions about corruption within the Trade Regulation Bureau. There were a lot of parts I skipped or skimmed over, making sure to give him just the salient parts.

The mayor’s expression grew increasingly grave.

When I finished, he leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “This is…very concerning. If what you say is true, we could be facing a crisis of unprecedented proportions.”

“It’s all true,” Ulene said, leaning forward in her chair. “I can prove it.” She got up and walked over to the cart. Despite my protest, she reached into the pile of crates and pulled out her empty sphere. “This is an elemental trap. The elemental trap I was held in. A cadre of mages summoned me from my plane and bound me into this device. Without the help of these mortals, I would still be bound here, to be used as a weapon.”

“Decorum dictates I demand you show proof that you are what you say…but I am no fool. I have two eyes and can clearly see you are not a being of this region of the Wilds.” Mayor Khatar rubbed his temples, suddenly looking weary. “This is far beyond my authority to handle alone. We need to contact the Purifier’s Guild immediately. And Agent Kieran as well,” he said, grimacing. “She’s got some explaining to do.”

“Don’t forget Mayor Regan!” Nym said in a sing-song tone. “He sent us after all.”

“That’s probably wise,” I said, giving her a quick pat between the ears. “We should check in with him as soon as we can. But in the meantime, we need a secure place to store these artifacts and spheres. Somewhere where they can’t fall into the wrong hands.”

The mayor stood up and walked over to a large painting on the wall. With a wave of his hand, the painting shimmered and disappeared, revealing a heavy iron door set into the stone.

“This vault was built to withstand magical and physical attacks,” he explained as he began a complex unlocking ritual. “It should suffice until we can arrange more permanent accommodations.”

When the vault door swung open, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Finally, it seemed like we might be able to secure our dangerous cargo for long enough to do something about it.

But just as we began to move the crates into the vault, a commotion erupted outside the Mayor’s office.

There were shouts, followed by the echoing slap of running feet.

Shit.