Battle Mage 8 by Dante King

Author:Dante King [King, Dante]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B0BZSK2TN1
Published: 2023-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Everyone stopped what they were doing and rushed over to Fei. She was at the entrance to what looked like a small cave in the massive, clifflike walls of the cavern.

“In there,” she said, pointing into the cave.

From atop the ledge, Illusionist Thace created a ball of light that floated into the cave to light our way. We hurried into the small, foul place, which had clearly been the insect-man’s home. It was strewn with grisly items—skulls, ribcages, and thigh bones—all of which had been gnawed on.

“I guess we’ve just solved the mystery of what happened to the missing beggars,” Khirel murmured.

The cave wasn’t particularly large, and it didn’t take long to find the Emperor.

He was chained to the rear wall of the cave. Although he was unconscious, he seemed to be alright. The young man had a black eye and a lump on the top of his skull, as well as a split lip, but aside from the beating he’d clearly taken, he didn’t seem to have any major wounds.

I didn’t bother to waste time searching for the key to the shackles on his wrists. Instead, I drew my Warrior’s Gladius and hacked through the chains, the magic blade scything with ease through the old, rusty iron.

I slung the Emperor over my right shoulder, carrying his limp form like a sack of potatoes.

“We’ve got what we came for, everyone,” I said. “It’s time to finally get out of this disgusting place.”

“Ugh, I hope the stink hasn’t seeped into my clothes and hair,” Fei muttered as we exited the cave. “I’m going to need at least a dozen hot baths before I can even begin to feel remotely clean.”

We climbed back up to the ledge and rejoined the others.

Illusionist Thace gave the unconscious Emperor a quick examination.

“He’s in good health, aside from a few minor wounds,” Thace pronounced. “This is excellent, most excellent! Well done, Leo. You may have just saved the entire Empire.”

“I appreciate the compliment, Illusionist, but let’s not be too hasty to congratulate ourselves. When’s he going to wake up?” I asked. “He’s been out cold for quite a while now.”

“It’s difficult to say because his unconsciousness, I believe, was not caused by a blow to the head. Instead, it appears to be from a hefty dose of the same evil magic that has afflicted everyone in the city above us. While their diluted doses have meant that they are awake and partially functional, albeit in a zombie-like state, the dose given to the Emperor appears to have been potent enough to knock him out. I think the only way we’re going to wake him anytime soon is with magic.”

“We’ll get that done as soon as we can,” I said, “but for the moment, he can stay unconscious. Right now, all I want to do is get the hell out of this place and get some clean air in my lungs again.”

Everyone else echoed this sentiment, and we made our way out of the sewer system as rapidly as we could.

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