NBB3 - chapter 20: Skulltown

Solus and Laron were less than a hundred feet from the first buildings when a group of undead moved to intercept them. The leader was a massive undead of a kind that Solus hadn't seen before. He was bare-chested and with his hands clutched to fists, while the rest of the group wielded bone clubs and wore bone armor.

"Stop."

Solus and Laron did as commanded, and Solus saw the eyes were all on him.

"What is the problem," he projected in such a way that it was apparent the voice came from him.

All but the lead undead took a step back, many gaping at him as they began muttering amongst themselves. One zombie, bald and with long gashes across the back of his head, almost jumped up and down in excitement as it pointed.

"It speaks! That's so incredible!"

"Quiet," the leader snapped. "You are an undead?"

"What else would I be," Solus retorted, looking at the massive undead.

It was hard to see from his low angle, but he guessed it was almost as big as Skull.

"A Shadowhunter or a Kaot," the undead said coolly.

He stepped closer, this time looking at the body Laron was carrying. "And who is that?"

"We were told to bring him to the Pattern Hall," Solus said on a whim.

"Told by who?"

"By Vingria," Solus answered, hoping that Vingria was still around. He couldn't imagine her being gone, so it seemed like a safe bet.

The undead frowned, his dark, gleaming eyes staring straight into his for just long enough to make Solus start to worry. Then the undead stepped away.

"I see," he stated.

What is that supposed to mean? Solus thought.

The lead undead didn't give him any time to think, as it signaled the others, then stepped forward and grabbed Solus around the neck, hoisting him up and clenching him against his chest. At the same, the others surrounded Laron.

"What's going on?" Solus projected, struggling to get free.

The undead didn't respond and just carried him away, deeper into the city. Behind him, he heard the others escort Laron after them.

Solus continued to struggle, but the undead's arms didn't even budge. They felt like they were made of some unbendable material. A heat emanated from the other as if there was lava coursing deep below the surface of his body.

As the buildings continued to pass, Solus noticed that although many undead looked at them curiously, none spoke to the guard leader. Soon Solus began recognizing parts of the city. The guard wasn't carrying him to the center but one of the edges.

I need to get free, Solus thought.

He opened up his status window. It was time to select a skill. He had wanted to get the breath cone ability at first, but with his head tilted to the side, it wouldn't help now and he was glad he hadn't selected it. Instead, he scrolled to a skill he had dismissed at first.

> Piercing barb growth: A rather old skill with a passive and active part. Bone-like protrusions will grow from the minion's skin, remaining there and providing a layer of protection and damage to any that attack the minion. The barbs can be shot in an area around the minion, up to forty feet, piercing through anything but the hardest of surfaces.

Solus selected it, and his small mana-field burst into existence. The arms surrounding him clenched harder as a startled cry came from the massive guard.

"What are you doing? Stop it!"

Solus ignored him, going slack as if he was unconscious. The arms released him as two powerful hands wrapped around his neck and shook him a few times.

"I don't know what you are doing, but stop it, or I'll wring your neck!"

Solus ignored both the shaking and the threat, waiting for the skill to finish. A solid blow to the skull shook him, and he tensed just in time for the second. His eyes flashed open to see the wall of a building in front of him a second before his head slammed into it. His mind fogged over, and his hearing faded. He struggled again, trying to bite the arms, and finally managed to claw the undead. But, his sharp nails that had easily destroyed stone slid from the thick grey skin without any effect. The undead just grunted, swinging him against the wall again.

The mana-field disappeared, and a sharp ping came from Solus' status window. Barely conscious, he triggered the skill that had appeared in his mind just as he slammed headfirst into the wall again. His mind turned black then he was ejected from his body. Soft green light emanated from the stone that made up the street, and he saw the massive undead stand frozen in place. Long black spikes protruded from his chest, as well as the walls behind him, and Solus' body hung limply in his raised hand.

Not enough? Solus thought, his worry growning.

Then the undead dropped to his knees and slumped on the ground. Halfway down, he released Solus' body, which rolled to the side, unmoving.

Bile! Solus thought as he saw a crack running along the side of his new body's head.

A greenish ichor trickled from the side of his left eye socket. He swirled around, finding that a group of zombies lying in crumpled heaps a few feet back down the alley. Laron and Sig lay beside them, and spikes protruded from everything.

"Laron," Solus shouted, hoping that he hadn't accidentally ended the other.

There was no reply, and he floated down and into his body. The familiar hammer blow knocked him out, and when he woke a few moments later, a burning pain flared his skull, causing him to growl in pain.

He pushed himself up, staggering as he did, and moved to Laron. Two spikes had hit him, one digging into his shoulder and the other buried into his leg. Besides this, his body was muscled-up, purple stripes pulsating all across his skin. Sig lay beside him, miraculously unscathed.

Or his skin is too strong, Solus thought, noting a few minute marks on Sig's face.

"Wake up," he projected next to Laron's ear.

There was no reply, but after a few more attempts, there was a soft moan, and Laron's eyes snapped open. They were unfocused and seemed to drift around.

"Solus... something hit me… hit me… hit me…" Laron continued for a bit, then shook his head, and finally, his eyes cleared up. "What happened, happened?

Footsteps and mumbling came from a bit further away, moving their way.

"Later. Grab Sig and follow me," Solus hissed, nudging Laron's arm. The wound on his head touched the other's flesh, and pain flared up.

"Hurry," he whispered as Laron slowly got to his feet, staggering after him.

They barely made it to the back of the street when someone entered the other way. Solus gazed around the larger road, noting a few undead that shuffled along, staring at the ground. When he was sure nobody was paying attention to them, then turned to see who was coming.  Perhaps he would recognize someone.

A group of three of the massive undead entered the alley, looking at the spikes protruding from the walls and the half dozen unconscious undead. One of them spotted the other one of their kind and ran towards him, the others following immediately. They simply ignored the zombies.

Solus's sensitive ears manage to pick up their conversation.

"Who did this?" a grey-skinned brute asked.

Next to him, another one yanked a spike out of the wall and started inspecting it. "Who would dare attack a Goliarn," she growled before snapping the spike in half. It splintered, smaller pieces shooting everywhere.

Goliarn? So that's what these things are, Solus thought as his eyes narrowed.

"Let's go. We need to warn Scathia that Sig is back. She won't like that…"

Solus almost choked as he heard that name, quickly turning around the corner so he wouldn't alert those Goliarn. Laron stood a few steps away, swaying.

How is Scathia still around? Solus thought as he growled softly.

He ignored Laron, who was staring at him with wide eyes.

Worse, what was she doing in Skulltown? How had she even managed to get here without being seen? He wanted to turn around and stalk the Goliarn to find out where she was hiding! He almost turned around, then stopped. That would mean leaving Laron and Sig here, which seemed like a bad idea. He didn't trust the other undead to keep quiet and stay hidden. Besides, what if the Cestodia acted up again.

"Stay quiet," Solus projected softly beside Laron's head.

When Laron nodded, he looked around the street. A busy street crossed it a few hundred feet to the right, while a few smaller alleys, like the one they had just exited, led away. Entrances led into the squarish, windowless buildings. Further to the left, he saw another crossing, closer, and he saw a familiar sight poke over the line of buildings.

His tower!

"Alright, follow me," he said as he began moving left and sticking close to the buildings.

Although the buildings were all made of stone, he didn't recall making them.

Closer to the bustling street, dozens of zombies and skeletons rushed by, many seeming in a hurry. Just before they reached it, they passed a side alley, and after thinking, Solus entered it. If he could escape notice, that would be best. They followed the alley to the smaller streets and back-alleys, managing to circumvent many bussy places.

Eventually, however, he found himself lurking around the corner of a busy street with no other way. They had to move through it.

Solus gazed at the dozens of undead that moved along, loudly talking and chatting.

"We need to pass here," he said, turning to Laron and winced.

The black undead looked horrible. Although Laron had pulled out the spikes, a pale fluid oozed from two round holes, making long wet lines down his chest and stomach. Everything about him showed something was going on. Not in the least the motionless grey undead that he would be carrying across his shoulders.

Solus thought for a moment, then lay down and exited the body. His green projected form moved through the stone corner. On the other side, undead ambled along the streets, moving to and from a gate set in one of the inner gates. He recognized it as one of the last ones he made, and he knew the path from there to where he wanted to go.

If he could get past the two plate-covered zombie guards that stood on each side and what looked like skeletal mages stood on top.

None of those Goliarn, though, Solus thought, nodding to himself.

The undead he saw easily passed the guards, which barely seemed to notice them. Still, an undead carrying another accompanied by him in his new body would be sure to draw attention. Looking around for another way across, he saw a building to the side that was even taller than the wall, and an idea formed. If he could reach that, he could jump across. That still left Laron. The other would have to somehow get through the gate while carrying Sig.

Solus thought about it for a bit. He contemplated waiting for nightfall the realized it wouldn't work. There wouldn't be any more undead, but there would be guards. With no one to blend in with, Laron would stick out even more. Still, if he wanted to reach the Hall of Patterns, he had little choice.

Why would they even stop us, he thought after a while. They might ask a question or two, but that should be it.

He couldn't believe that Scathia had changed all of the guards to her puppets.

"Laron, go out in the street and through the gate," Solus said. "Keep walking, and I'll find you on the other side."

Laron didn't even respond, which worried him. The undead simply scrambled up, his eyes slightly unfocused, picked up Sig, and slung him across his shoulders.

"Laron, if they ask you where you are going, tell them you are heading to Drys."

"Drys," Laron agreed, dully, then moved past Solus and around the corner.

Solus ejected from his body again, skimming through the wall to see if the other would make it through. If need be, he could try and create a diversion.

Laron was moving towards the gate, following behind a group of zombies. They were talking loudly, and as they passed the guardhouse, none of the guards even looked at Laron.

Strange, Solus thought. The difference with how they had been spotted and grabbed while only just entering confused him.

After a second, he turned and sprinted back through the street, taking the first left. It took him only half a minute to reach the building he had seen.

It stood beside a few others of similar height, all with a stone bottom and a bone top. A simple door sat halfway, but it was closed. Not that he needed the door. Solus felt the agility of his new body and moved into a corridor between two of the buildings. Staring at the walls, he grinned as he prepared, then jumped up against the left wall, pushed off, and turned his body before hitting the other wall and kicking up again.

He bounced between the walls, quickly reaching the end and jumping to the top of one of the buildings. He snuck to the edge and looked down at the wide and bustling street behind the gate that wound its way through the city. Far in the distance, he saw a square with a statue. As he focused on the statue, he suddenly realized he recognized it.

Why is there a statue of me in the city? he thought with a frown.

There wasn't any time to examine it now, though, and he turned to the inner area of the city. The gate led to an intersection, and he recognized it from years before. Laron was moving along it deeper into the city. The undead was constantly looking around.

He's drawing to much attention, Solus thought as he growled again.

He inspected the top of the wall, examining the skeletal mages on top. Their glowing eye sockets were all pointed at the ground below, and without even thinking, Solus took a few steps back, then loped forward. He sailed through the air, landed on the wall, dashed forward, and jumped towards the nearest building. He couldn't look at the guards, but a sudden outcry from the side showed that at least someone had seen him.

Too late, he thought as he landed on a lower building and raced across the flat stone roof. Beyond lay another building, and he jumped across the gap. A few minutes later, he was hiding in a small alley between two buildings, sneaking around the corner. Laron was moving his way at such a slow pace it annoyed him. Behind him, Solus saw that guards were coming from the walls, inspecting the buildings at the start of the street. It wouldn't take them long to reach where he was.

"Laron, move," he projected towards the slow undead.

Laron jerked and spun sideways.

"Keep moving forward, and stop looking around. You are drawing too much attention," Solus sent again, agitation growing.

Luckily Laron turned forward again, but he didn't walk any faster.

"Turn into this street," Solus messaged when Laron was almost beside the alley.

Laron obeyed, and Solus saw the look of utter relief on the other's face when he saw him.

"Where did you go? Where?" Laron said, his voice far too loud to Solus' liking.

"Not important. Now let's go. We need to reach Drys' place, fast," Solus said as he turned around.

"Not too fast, fast…" Laron said, shuffling after him. Solus turned just in time to see him lower his hand from the side of his head.

Slowly the two moved through the side alleys of the older part of the city, the part Solus knew well. Most of it was stone, with only a few patches of bone left and right.

Solus snuck ahead towards the corner that led to one of the many roads leading to the Pattern Hall. Peeking around the corner, he saw the massive tower that was Drys' abode. Groups of undead moved across the square that bordered it, and he saw a few Goliarn between them.

He turned to Laron, who was standing behind him, his blurry gaze on the ground.

"Laron?" Solus asked softly, worried the other was drifting off again. Laron looked up, his eyes sharpening a bit.

"Do you remember what I told you?" Solus asked carefully.

"Yes, yes. I know," Laron muttered. "Go inside, and tell, tell, tell…. Tell the guards that Solus sends Sig to Drys, and Drys has to come outside to pick up four-legged Solus."

Solus blinked as Laron rattled off the entire message back to him. Except for the slight hiccup, it was the most coherent thing the dark undead had said in… well perhaps ever.

"Good, hurry," he said, hoping Laron could keep his clarity long enough.

Laron moved away from him, turning around the corner without a care, and he followed, gazing around the corner after him.

So close… Solus thought as he looked at the familiar building where Laron was heading. He almost wanted to sprint forward and try to reach Drys himself; then he spotted another Goliarn. Keeping half an eye on it, he watched Laron, hoping things would go as he planned.

--

Laron shambled across the square, the weight of Sig across his shoulders making it hard to move. His mind was fuzzy, as it had been for a while now, and he felt the thing in his head slither around. Solus had promised that they could remove it! Inside, he had to get inside and speak... to... to... Drys. Yes. Drys.

At first, the undead around him didn't seem to pay much attention to him, although the body on his shoulders got the occasional glance. Then he moved through a group of four zombies that stepped aside to let him pass, and he heard them talk behind him.

"Look at that one! I've never seen an evolution like that. Let's go ask him which one it is."

"Don't! Look what he's carrying. He might be dangerous."

"Why do you think he is carrying a body?"

The mutter continued behind him, and Laron quickened his step.

They were going to stop him! No, he had to get inside! What if he never got rid of the slithering thing? Laron kept his eyes locked on the door. Two steps before the entrance, someone called from behind.

"You, with the body. Stop."

The threat in the deep, growling voice caused clarity to come to his mind, and Laron bolted forward and into the building. A roar came from behind, but he ignored it as he stumbled into the room. He looked around the crowded room. Tables littered the center, pathways branching off in every direction. To his right was a staircase that curved up to the next level, just like Solus had said. He moved there and up as fast as he could, shoving a small skeleton out of the way.

"Hey, watch were you walk!"

Laron ignored the angry shouting and began climbing. Halfway up, something burst into the room, knocking aside undead in the door opening and sending them scattering.

"Stop!"

The threat in the voice was even thicker than before.

Laron ignored it, looking up. A heavyset, fleshy undead in white-plate armor stood at the top of the stairs. He was wide enough to block the whole staircase, and the skin on his bald head was smooth and tear-free, showing he wasn't some lowly zombie. Bright eyes gleamed with a red light as they inspected Laron.

"I'm here for Drys, here with Sig, here!" Laron shouted, glad he managed to keep the words on to the point.

More or less.

Solus' words, so clear before, were garbled in his mind, and as he tried to focus on them, the horrible thing slithered below his skull again. The fear of it, combined with the roaring from behind, was enough for him to manage more speed, and he reached the guard who was still blocking the way.

"Drys-" Laron began again when the bald undead frowned, looked behind him, and stepped aside.

"Wait behind me," he said in a soft, smooth voice.

Laron didn't respond but shakily stepped past him and onto the next floor. It was covered with pillars and walls filled with patterns and inscriptions, which reminded him of the small building he had once called home.

A group of undead stood in a half-circle, curiously looking at him. Laron took a few steps towards them before turning around. He wanted to run to Drys, but the undead didn't seem like they would let him pass. At the top of the stairs, the guard was back to blocking the way up. Something heavy was stomping up the stairs, blocked by his body, until a massive square face appeared above him.

"A Goliarn," someone whispered behind Laron.

"What does he want here? Think Bilderbin will let him pass?"

Laron swallowed. If Bilderbin was the other undead, he hoped he wouldn't. In front of him, the Goliarn glanced across Bilderbin at him, its eyes burning with an angry green light.

"Your help isn't needed," the bald undead said, holding a hand up.

"Out of my way, Bilderbin. I need to bring that undead to Enthrill," the Goliarn rumbled. He stopped before the other. Although three steps lower, his head was at the same height as the burly undead.

"No need. I will bring this one to Drys," Bilderbin replied easily. "Now, get out. You know you aren't welcome here."

The Goliarn bared square grey teeth as he growled softly. “Bilderbin,” he began, threatenly.

The bald undead raised his hand; the flat palm pointed straight at the Goliarn. The Goliarn froze, his eyes on the smooth palm, and he slowly closed his mouth.

"Get. Out." Bilderbin said.

The Goliarn took one more look at Laron, then turned and slowly stomped down the stairs. Bilderbin looked at Laron. "Stay here. I'll be right back."

Laron nodded and watched as the bald undead rushed after the Goliarn.

"How did you anger a Goliarn?" a squeaky voice asked from behind.

Laron turned and found a small fleshy undead with a matted wadd of green and black hair standing behind him. She was clutching a book under one arm and looked at Sig with interest.

"Not- not sure, sure, I am," Laron sang softly, his mind somehow mangling the words again.

The smaller undead took a step back and frowned.

"I've never seen someone like you, and I know all the patterns here. Are you one of those that shape their own pattern? Like Drys?"

Laron shook his head, glad that Solus had told him what to do.

"No, no. It was a gift, gift it was, from Solus."

He had barely uttered the word when the entire room exploded with chatter.

"Where is Solus?"

"How did you find him?"

"Is he as powerful as they say?"

"How did he give you a pattern?"

Questions were tossed his way, all jumbled, and he barely made out what most asked. They were also moving closer to him, looking at him. The questions kept coming, and Laron took a shaking step back when the undead stopped as suddenly as they had started. All of them looked at something behind Laron, and he slowly turned.

A tall, grey undead stood before him. Long hair that moved as if stirred by the wind and a built that reminded him of Sig. Still, where Sig felt foggy, this one was grounded and solid as if he could run through a wall. His intense black eyes were staring straight at him, drawing all of his attention.

The grey undead took in Laron with a frown, then looked at the figure draped across his shoulders.

"SIG!"

A grey blur rushed to Laron, and the load disappeared from his shoulders. The force shoved him back.

"Sig, wake up. It's me, Drys!"

Laron blinked, and he looked up. Drys? He needed to tell him about Solus. Suddenly he noticed that it was deadly quiet in the room, and as he looked up, he found Drys looking at him, his hands on Sig.

"I think you had better tell me what is going on," Drys said.

His eyes were scanning the space before Laron as if he tried to find something but couldn't.

"Alright," Laron said. "Small Solus said you have to go outside. Outside, and help him inside. He is a Shadowhunter!"

"He is outside?" Drys said, jumping up.

Laron nodded.

"Bilderbin, guard Sig, and keep this one here. I'll be right back," Drys said as he jumped head first down the stairs disappearing in a grey blur.

The bald undead sighed as he looked at Laron and Sig.

"I guess the quiet times are over."