Dungeon Annihilation 33

Morning Everyone! Last chapter of book 1! Enjoy!

Louella

The battle had been sort of… anticlimactic when we arrived. Most of the undead had already rushed into the dungeon and the ones that remained outside ranged from tier one to tier two. Most of the parties and guards were more worried about being bitten than actually defeating the things. 

I was still worried that something might have happened to the host. We really couldn’t afford a repeat of Undead Queen Alara. We weren’t sure what caused her to change, only that necromancers were involved. 

Commander Yin was an excellent leader. She was able to get the three forces working side by side to destroy the thirty or so undead outside the tower. We found the host was putting up a good fight when two robed individuals crashed to the ground with black arrows embedded in their backs. 

A party’s priest quickly identified them as necromancers and before Commander Yin or I could stop them they were killed by decapitation. We hated losing the potential information but many people would argue that any necromancers found should be killed immediately.

Our forces moved inside the dungeon and we began picking off the undead that were wandering deeper into the dungeon. While the others dealt with the undead, I pulled my party to the side to see if I could contact the host.

“Dungeon Host!” 

Nothing happened for a few minutes until there was a swirl of darkness a few meters from us. We braced ourselves as the dungeon host emerged. The host took a disturbing appearance as some form of shadow monster. 

“You rang?”

“We… We wanted to make sure you were…” I paused as I wasn’t sure what to say. Okay? Not corrupted? Did either of those fit?

“Of sound mind and body?” the host said with an obviously amused chuckle.

“Yes. That works,” I said with a shrug.

“You can put your mind at ease. These bastards,” his voice took a very threatening tone and I thought my ears might bleed from how it made me feel, “have nothing on me. I won’t be a slave like the dungeon to the north.”

“Undead Queen Alara?”

“That’s right.” The host looked at each of us. “Oh. You didn’t know. That’s just sad.” He placed his hand on his head and shook it. “I swear if its not right in front of your face, you mortals just don’t care do you.”

“Not something easily found out, when everything for two thousand kilometers is a undead wasteland.”

“Excuses. Whatever. The threat is dealt with. Leave my dungeon or challenge it. I’m done here,” the host waved his hand and his body burst into darkness that engulfed the area before the surroundings returned to normal.

We all breathed in relief and lowered our weapons. Ezal grabbed my shoulder. “It looks like the undead are about dealt with. Let’s head back.”

“I agree,” I replied then turned to head back towards the entrance. While it appeared no one had died or been overly injured from the battle. I had to wonder about the fact the dungeon was about to withstand an attack from over two hundred undead that had the support of necromancers.

This could mean quite a lot of dangerous things. Plus, there would be no way for me to control the information of what happened today. The next few months would be quite interesting. I was sure a lot of nobles and adventurers were going to be very taken with the dungeon. 

“Lady Louella!”

I turned to the call and found the Marquis with his party and a few other groups of adventurers.

“Lord Valamar. I am pleased to see that you are unharmed,” I said giving him a curtsey.

“Nonsense. Bruce here wouldn’t allow me to enter the damn thing to help.” Lord Valamar smacked Bruce’s back but barely budged him. 

“Then you are blessed with a retainer that truly cares for his lord,” I replied giving Bruce a nod.

“That I am. I will speak to you in the coming days. Let me know how the interrogation of the necromancer goes. My people will take a crack at it when yours are done,” Lord Valamar said giving a bow before he turned with his people and made his way back to the town. 

“As you wish, my lord.”

~~~

The valley had calmed down after the incident that barely caused a stir in the night. When people heard that there had been undead in the valley there was understandable concern and fear. However, when they learned of my quick response and that we captured one of them and killed two others, the fear turned to cheers.

It helped that Lord Valamar was not taking any credit for the events. As the highest noble during the attack, he had the right to take it. Thankfully, he was hailing me as the person responsible for protecting the town. 

We were at his airship in what was almost a mini throne room. Lord Valamar sat center stage and drew all the attention to himself with his white and gold leaf coat. I could see how he was every maiden in the capital’s wet dream. 

“Lady Louella. Step forward.” 

“Yes, my lord!” 

I moved up the blue carpet and stood between the pillars. I kneeled as was customary in events like this. “I am raising your rank to Viscount with ideas to make you a Count once I speak to my father. I wish to bring your lands under my family’s protection.”

“Count, my lord? Surely this is too great an honor for one such as myself,” I said lowering my head. While I would appreciate the protection this would bring me. It would also cause me a large amount of headache. Though thinking it over quickly, I knew there was little I could do about it.

“With the new dungeon attracting the interest of the necromancer threat, Thonaca cannot afford to have its borders threatened. The Lecazar Empire might have once been your home, but with this you are truly a Thonacan. I trust you will serve to protect her interests.” Lord Valamar looked at me with hard eyes. I saw my fate was more unstable then I first thought it was. 

I looked at the Marquis with wide eyes. I knew that my lineage would bring doubt, but I guess it was bringing more strife then I expected. I would need to stick close to the Marquis so neither countries use me as an excuse to go to war. 

“As you will it. So, it shall be,” I said bowing my head.

“Then rise, Viscountess Louella. Lord of the new Tower Holding Domain.”

I stood as instructed but my mind was working in overdrive. I was lord of a domain! That was entirely different than being a lord due to owning the land. I was appointed by the marquis and thus the King. No one could take it from me until I died, or either of those two changed their mind. If I had children, the lands would transfer to them.

“Thank you for this amazing gift, my lord. May I serve you to the best of my ability.”

“I’m sure you will. A little suggestion moving forward.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Make some friends.” Lord Valamar leaned back and tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. “I sense dark times ahead of us, and something tells me your tower is going to be a key part of it.”

I nodded. “I will… try, my lord,” I replied honestly. 

Lord Valamar laughed loudly. “I have no doubt.”

~End~