Chapter 1: The Gamble
“No, don’t hurt me!” The little man shouted as two arms held him firmly against the wall.
“I paid you for a map of the Dy’Hom temple in the Dominion Realm, and you also promised to guide me to the mountain path leading to it. So far I’m not impressed with what you’ve given me.” Alyssa said with a good deal of irritation in her voice. She didn’t like wasting gold on worthless slime that couldn’t keep up their end of a bargain.
“Wait, wait! I never said I had it personally, but I knew where you could obtain it…for a reasonable price.” The small man said grinning back at Alyssa who was anything but humored.
“Fine then, where can I obtain it for a reasonable price?” Alyssa asked.
“That’s easy, I have it.” A deep voice behind Alyssa said.
She craned her head over her left shoulder and saw a tall, burly looking man standing confidently in the center of the tavern, which had emptied out significantly since Alyssa had begun her interrogation of the little man.
“Who are you, and what’s this slimeball to you?” Alyssa asked the tall stranger.
“He’s my partner, and gold is always what I’m in for, and that little slimeball right there says you have a lot of it.” The tall man said with a coy smile.
“My client does.” Alyssa said as she eased her grip on the small man and let him slide down the wall to the ground, careful to not fully release her grip on him. “So, what’s your reasonable price?”
“I like games, all kinds of games.” The tall man said as he moved a little closer. Alyssa drew her dagger and pointed it at him.
“Games don’t interest me.” Alyssa said gravely, and the man backed off a little.
“I see sorcerers don’t have a sense of humor.” The man said with a crooked smile.
“Well, I could always show you what I find humorous if you prefer.” Alyssa suggested with her own coy smile.
“Fine then, down to business since that’s what you want. I know where the map is that my partner promised you, but in order to get it, you’ll have to play me in a game of crystal squares. If I win, you pay us both 30 gold coins, and perhaps a kiss. And if you win, you get the map for 30 gold coins.” The man said crossing his arms.
“That doesn’t sound reasonable to me at all.” Alyssa said.
“Hey, take it or leave it; and no magic will help you obtain either, so don’t even think about trying any of that on me.” The man said.
“Don’t be too sure of that, but my curiosity is piqued, so I agree to your terms. And you, don’t even think of moving from this spot.” Alyssa said to the small man who quickly nodded as she walked over to where the tall man was sitting at a table.
“Take a seat and we’ll get started.” The man said and Alyssa sat down on the nearest chair and watched as the man poured the contents of a leather pouch onto the table. Five square shaped cubes the color light blue bounced around and then he arranged them in a line and took a small crystal from his pocket and placed it into the middle cube. “Before I begin, please put this on?” He said as he handed her a bracelet.
“And what is this for?” Alyssa asked curiously.
“It will prevent you from using any magic to help you cheat.” He answered simply.
“I don’t cheat,” Alyssa responded as if he had just insulted her.
“Nevertheless, for the sake of certainty.” He said as he held the bracelet for Alyssa, which she relented and placed it around her wrist. The man then began shuffling the cubes around. “So, what’s your interest in the Dy’Hom temple?”
“It’s for a job.” Alyssa answered succinctly as her eyes remained focused on the five cubes.
“Your clients must be paying you a pretty price to visit such a dangerous place.” The man said.
“I am being generously compensated, not that it concerns you at all.” Alyssa said with her eyes still focused on the cubes.
“You know there are rumors about you, and the things you have done across many realms.” The man said his tone turning dark.
“Oh, really? A man of your skill should hardly be giving any credence to rumors; people are prone to exaggeration.” Alyssa said with a grin as she looked up at the man for a brief moment before returning her gaze to the cubes that he was beginning to shuffle around faster.
“They say that you’re searching for something in your past, and that you’re digging up old family charts and histories, making a lot of powerful people uncomfortable.” The man was saying and then Alyssa placed her hands on his stopping him from shuffling the cubes and gazed directly into his eyes clearly curious now.
“What powerful people?” She asked.
“I don’t know who, just that there are some.” He responded.
“You’re a terrible liar.” She said.
“Doesn’t matter. What are you looking for?” He asked.
“You ask a lot of questions for a burly, brute of a man.” She pointed out.
“And you poke a lot into other people’s business stirring up trouble for a sorcerer.” The man said and the two of them gazed into each other’s eyes for a few moments. “Are we going to continue?”
“By all means,” Alyssa said as she removed her hands from his and sat back as he resumed his shuffling. He moved his hands faster and faster until he stopped with the five cubes now clustered together.
“Which of the cubes has the crystal? Simple enough right, even for a sorceress.” The man said as he leaned back and crossed his arms with a wide smile. Alyssa gazed at the cubes intently and then back at the man.
“None of them, the crystal is actually in your pant pocket.” Alyssa said as she motioned to the man, and his smile immediately vanished. “So, where’s my map?”
“You cheated.” The man said.
“I did not.” Alyssa said calmly.
“If I say you cheated then you cheated!” The man growled loudly as he stood to his feet clutching a crossbow and aiming it at her head. More burly looking men armed with crossbows and swords poured into the room from outside.
“Friends of yours I assume?” Alyssa asked nodding to the others.
“Yeah, they’re my men, and we’re all going to make a fortune with your death.” The man said with a smile.
“Doubtful, but as I’m about to die, why don’t you tell me where the map is, just for the fun of it.” Alyssa asked smiling.
“Sure, why not; I’ll consider it your final request. My partner over there has it; he is a much better liar than you are.” The man said motioning to the small man who was silently cowering against the wall.
“I’ll have to remember that in the future.” Alyssa said looking into the man’s eyes.
“What future,” the man said as he fired the crossbow bolt which went right through Alyssa’s head. The man looked at her stunned. “How?”
“Simple, I’m not really here.” Alyssa said as the projection melted away. The man looked around to see that the real Alyssa was by his partner, but by the time his associates had taken aim and fired their weapons she had created a portal and vanished. Alyssa and the small man appeared far on the outskirts of the village near the keystone portal.
“The map.” Alyssa demanded as she held her arm around the man’s throat. He reached into his cloak and removed the map and handed it to her. “Now you’re coming with me to lead the way.”
“There’s no need for a guide, take the nearest path straight up the mountain outside of where the keystone portal is and you will find the Dy’Hom temple.” The little man said struggling to speak.
“You wouldn’t be lying to me again, would you?” Alyssa asked.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” The little man gasped.
“Good. Otherwise, next time I see you, you’ll be even shorter.” Alyssa then knocked him unconscious and dropped him to the ground. She then turned to the keystone portal and activated it for the Dominion Realm.