The Spiderhaunt Tower

Saveen stared out the window. The approaching storm flashed in her pale blue eyes, and the wind whipped her blond hair about her. She ran her slim, elven fingers over the pommel of her sword in response to the energy of the storm that threatened to rage outside.

"Do you see anything yet?" Valin asked as he slid a whetstone down his dagger.

Saveen glanced back and grinned as Valin balanced the blade on the tip of his finger without cutting himself. She did not know how a human could show so much grace, but he managed. Though she didn't approve of his thievery either, Saveen Elendel couldn't deny that Valin had gotten her and the rest of the company out of some hot messes.

"Yes, but the storm can play tricks on the mind," she replied, focusing back on the area in front of the tower, where the bandits camped out.

"That sucks, and I wonder what they're waiting for," Valin said. He pulled out a couple more daggers and juggled them.

Now she was stuck with him in a tower, with a small army of bandits outside the wall surrounding the building. Lightning flashed, and a slight tingle tickled her body. Her magic responded well to the storm. Maybe I can channel that in the battle. Most warriors would prefer another fighter in cases like this, but Saveen knew Valin had her back. He may be a thief, but he can handle a blade well.

"I'm sure you'll find something to keep your attention here. This is an ancient tower over a thousand years old, and I'm sure some trinkets remain."

Valin sighed but continued to risk his hands with the knives he tossed in the air. "True, but who are you kidding? Trouble always seems to find us. It's the reason we're here, right? If I didn't know any better, I'd say they wanted us to come here."

Saveen shrugged but didn't turn around. "The Baron was adamant about us coming here, and he said the bandits used this tower as a base," she said, her hands gripping the window seal.

Baron Brex Martel was a short, chubby bastard with thinning hair and an arrogant attitude. Valin mentioned he was sleazy upon first meeting him, but Saveen held out hopes for the man. He was a follower of the Lord of Justice, held quite a bit of land, and kept his people safe from bandits.

"I told you he lied to us," Valin said, snatching and sheaving each blade, one at a time. "I know bullshit when I hear it, and he shoveled it on big time."

"I'm wondering if you're right. He's a follower of Valorus. Why would he lie?" She asked.

Her elven ears picked up Valin's steps as he walked up next to her, leaning against the stone wall. Saveen's hearing was as good as any elf, but Valin had a few tricks up his sleeve if he wanted to trick her. Same with their friend, Galen, the Ranger. He was half-elven and had that to help him out.

She wrinkled her nose at the thought of Galen. Elves and humans didn't stand a chance with love. Elves lived for a thousand years, and humans were born, lived, and died within a twinkling of an eye to them. Their children were a different sort.

Galen was a great warrior, but it was hard for her to look past his mixed heritage. His green eyes held an intensity that only those of mixed blood had and could walk through a forest without a sound. Get over it, Saveen. He is who he is, and no amount of prejudice can change that. You can change. She sighed and glanced over at Valin; he only smiled mischievously in her direction.

"No," she said.

"I'll be good. That being said, the baron lied to us. I don't think the bandits are our problem, but something else here we need to worry about," he said, glancing out the window. "How else was it possible for us to walk in with no problems? They have abandoned this place for decades, and the bandits that followed us never came through the gates."

"But he follows Valorus, you know, the Lord of Justice," she replied, turning toward him, a hand on her hip. "Yeah, you may be on to something."

Valin ran a hand through his red hair and smiled, and his brown eyes sparkled a bit of life. "The only thing he follows is gold. I think he hired us to come here to get bored and look around. The bandit army is here to ensure we don't escape with the treasure, plain and simple."

"There can't be much here. The tower is so old, it would've had to be pillaged a hundred times over by now," Saveen said, walking away from the window.

"By normal people, yes, but you have this thing called magic, and the baron recognized that right away. Why do you think he lit up like the sun when he saw you?" Valin said.

"He recognized an elven Spellblade. We are quite popular amongst humans," she said.

Valin pushed himself off the wall and stood before Saveen, blocking her path. "We have our versions as well. You may be exotic, but you are nothing special in the magic world. Of course, Malanna thinks you're great," he said.

Malanna was the company's resident spellcaster. There were few spells she wouldn't try and never hesitated to show the men in the part that she was as strong as them. Saveen suspected she and Corynn were lovers, but since no one said anything, she'd keep her lips sealed.

"That being said, Elven Spellblades like yourself are considered a novelty in human lands. It's not every day you mix magic with steel and elevate it to an art form. He knew what he saw when he granted us the audience," Valin said. "I believe your magical ability caught his attention, not your eternal beauty," Valin said.

Saveen shut her eyes and exhaled slowly. Valin was right, and she hated to admit that. Score another point for elven pride, Saveen. She slowly opened them. "You think there is a magical item here or treasure trove that requires us to get to?"

"Of course. Why would he hire a thief and a magic user? It's also a trap," Valid said, his grin getting wider.

Saveen's eyes widened in response. "We steal the treasure, and the bandit army kills us."

Valin gave her a mock bow. "Very good, but I think there's something else we need to worry about. This place creeps me out, Saveen. Whatever is here, the baron hopes we take care of it and find the treasure so he can take it from us as we try to leave."

"So you want to find and take the treasure and leave before the army gets here?" Saveen asked.

"Rude. But yes, you're right. We can donate some to a temple or something, as that would make Corynn and Tobias happy. The rest can buy the rest of the company some much-needed supplies and us."

She knew neither would partake in treasure hunting without discussing such an adventure with their gods. Corynn was a Knight of Tallania; if it went against his honor, he'd walk away without giving it a second thought. Having a knight of the Holy Order of the Seven Moons had its advantages, though. Corynn was skilled with his sword, even if he was unbendable in the rules.

Tobias was similar. Being a priest of the God Mana, he liked things kept in order. From how he approached his faith to how he combed his blond hair, to say he was fastidious was an understatement. Saveen could ignore all that since the man could heal a gut wound and crack the skulls of his enemies with his mace at equal speed.

"Fine. I have a bad feeling this will hurt a little, and your bad feeling is echoing in my gut."

"Perhaps, as long as we don't run into any evil spirits or lurking monsters, then we're good," Valin said as a loud screech and the tapping of metal upon stone echoed inside the tower.

Valin glanced at the door that led to stairs wound down to the tower's ground level. Saveen let loose some elven obscenities and drew her blade. With all the speed Valin possessed, he ran over and closed the door. He looked for a lock and swore when he didn't find one.

"Of course, why would there be a lock on a door that is centuries old," she said as she rushed over and placed a hand on it. "Ingressum."

The door flared with light and returned to normal. Saveen stepped back and shrugged. "This may give us some time, depending on what's below."

Valin had a short sword in each hand. While not as mighty as Zenni's axe, Saveen knew Valin could deal as much damage as their dwarven friend's weapon.

The screech sounded again, this time closer. Sweat ran down Saveen's face, and her heart raced as she prepared for battle. What the hell was on the other side of that door? She wracked her brain to remember her studies but came up with nothing.

"What the hell was that? I think the baron wanted us to kill this thing so he could get the treasure," Valin said. "After this, there had better be a treasure."

You and me both, Valin. If we survive this, I'm tying the baron in the center of his city to a pole naked," she said.

A loud thud grabbed her attention. She glanced at the door as it gave slightly. Another thud and dust from around the door shoot out from the seams. Whatever was on the other side wanted in, and it may prove strong enough to do so.

"First thing first, Saveen. Kill the monster, take the treasure, and make our way through the bandits. Then you can violate the baron's sensibilities," Valin said, readying himself for the fight.

"Deal."

Another thud and the door shattered into shrapnel, pummeling Saveen and Valin. In its place stood an enormous spider the color of onyx and legs that came into points that looked as sharp as her sword. Its pincers snapped back and forth as it opened one last time and let out a screech. It tapped its legs on the stone floor before charging.

In a flash of a thought, Saveen charged and stabbed forward, hoping to impale the monster. Valin slid underneath and stabbed upward, both his blades piercing the beast. The monster screeched and leaped to the wall on the other side.

Dark green blood dripped from the wound Valin gave it. Saveen grinned at the armor-plated spider the size of a warhorse. With a practiced hand, she twirled her sword in the ways of the Spellblades before her. Like the others, she could meld iron and the arcane into one.

"Valin, keep it busy," she said.

"Yeah, sure."

She was rewarded with Valin turning a few shades lighter. Few people like spiders that are standard size but seeing one this large was quite disheartening. Valin was brave, but a spider this big could push the limits of courage in many warriors, herself included.

He charged and avoided getting speared by two of its legs. The spider moved fast, almost too fast for Valin. The creature shot a web at him, and Saveen grimaced as the sticky substance covered him. Her spell came quick as her sword glowed.

"Fiera," she said as fire danced along the blade.

She charged forward and slashed at the creature, severing three legs on one side. The monster howled and tried to move away, but Saveen leaped onto its back and plunged her blade into the spider's head. It trembled for a few moments before lying still.

Valin coughed and struggled against the webbing. "Well, that wasn't my best moment."

"It's dead now. Hopefully, there aren't any more of those things," she said, offering Valin a hand.

He gripped it and let Saveen help him to his feet. "Now, to find that treasure."

Saveen nodded and stopped before slowly approaching the tower window. "Do you hear that, Valin?"

"Hear what?"

"That clicking sound," she replied.

"I don't hear…," Valin's voice trailed off as clicking sounds echoed in the air. "That had better not be what I think it is?"

As Saveen approached the window, the front of a spider the size of the one she killed thrust itself through, its mandibles inches from her face. More clicking sounds came from the stairs.

"We are so screwed right now," Valin said, and Saveen quickly agreed.

"Flamma!" Saveen spoke as the fire from her blade shot forth from the tip and blasted the spider that tried to come through the window.

It screeched as it fell to the ground. Saveen took a peek out. "By the gods, Valin, look at this!"

Valin looked out and shuddered, his eyes wide in fear. Saveen raised an eyebrow as she saw her fear shining in Valin's eyes. Below them, a dozen of the enormous spiders crawled up the tower sides as more dug themselves out of the ground. Saveen quickly noted that they never climbed over the wall that surrounded the tower, nor did any exit the gate to attack the bandits.

"We need to get the hell out of here," Saveen said, rushing to the door.

Valin was on her heels when a large, black leg stabbed through the window, narrowly missing Valin's head. "How do you expect to get out of here?"

Saveen shrugged as she ran down the stairs that led to the doors leading to the courtyard. "I don't know, but we don't have time for a detailed plan, and we'll have to improvise."

"Now that's the elf warrior I love. Grynmar, with his bow, would prove useful right now," Valin replied.

They got to the landing to see the door free of the giant arachnids. "Yeah, he'd probably take out a few easily, and Malanna would probably take out a few herself."

"What about your magic?" Asked Valin.

"I need to use my sword to channel it, and it takes longer than a normal magic user. The bigger the spell, the longer it takes to cast. I doubt you could take on all the spiders to buy me enough time to get a spell off," Saveen said.

"Nope."

The tapping sound of dozens of feet echoed behind them. Valin glanced up and saw dozens of the spiders clamoring down the stairs. Some walked on the walls and ceiling to fit more of their kind in such a small space.

"Fuck me, this isn't looking good for us," Valin said.

Saveen grimaced at the sight. "We can make a run for it. I'd rather fight the bandits than end up as spider food."

That's the best plan I heard all day."

Saveen charged out to see dozens of the creatures blocking their way. Valin stood next to her, his short swords ready for action, even if it would prove limited. Saveen turned as more exited the tower behind them. The spiders had surrounded them, and she felt they'd be meeting their gods soon enough.

A few cheers from the bandits broke the silence and then turned into a shout of horror. Saveen watched as the bandits ran away from the tower. Keeping her blade high, she turned slowly so her back was to Valin's. The spiders backed away from them fast.

"Um, why is everyone running away?" Valin asked as he watched the bandits and spiders retreat.

Saveen glanced around and jumped as a stone fell to the ground in front of her. Looking up at the tower, an enormous spider perched atop the pinnacle, staring down at them. Saveen guessed it at thirty feet and shuddered.

"Fuck, that thing is big," she said.

Valin spun around and followed Saveen's gaze. Saveen rarely cussed in the common tongue as she saw it as barbaric, but sometimes she saw it as appropriate. This was one of those times, and the color drained from Valin's face.

"How the hell did we not see that coming in? I mean, this can't be real," Valin said.

"It is genuine, and it looks like the others fear it."

She glanced around and noticed the other spiders bowing and quivering a little where they stood. The gate to the wall was still open and not too far away. If they ran hard and fast, they could make it. Sure, Saveen and none of the other spiders will do nothing to stop you from doing that.

"Valin, how fast can you run?" She asked.

"Was that a rhetorical question? There's a gigantic spider looking at us like we're its next meal. I'll run faster than I ever have before," Valin replied.

"Murus ignis!" Saveen said as she swiped her fiery blade in front of her.

An enormous fire wall erupted from the surrounding ground, sending the spiders further back, some catching fire. "Run!"

Saveen headed for the exit a few strides behind Valin. He didn't look back, and she couldn't blame him as she didn't either. Valin leaped through the flames, and she followed before closing in on the exit. A loud thud and a shake of the ground let her know the queen spider landed and was giving hot pursuit.

Valin let loose a scream. Saveen turned to see the spider queen sparing Valin through his thigh with one of her legs. The gigantic spider ripped it out, leaving Valin bleeding and lying on the ground.

Saveen took a fighting stance between Valin and the monster. It rose on four of its legs and shrieked at her. She pulled some flint from a pouch and ran along the length of her sword.

"Fulmen!" she shouted as a lightning bolt arched from her sword into the creature's abdomen.

It bellowed in pain, and the scent of ozone mixed with fried meat reached Saveen's sensitive nose. She coughed at the stench before running over to Valin to help him.

"If you can, we need to run, Valin," she said.

"I'll try. Just don't let me become spider food," he said.

"Yeah, I won't let that happen."

Valin made it through the exit with Saveen's help. The giant spider collided with the wall and stopped, its mandibles clattering in anger. Valin dropped, his breath ragged, and glanced toward her. Saveen stopped to stare at the creature that hissed and screeched at them in anger.

"You won't be getting us for dinner," Saveen said.

The creature paused as its abdomen arched up. A stream of webbing shot out and wrapped around Saveen's legs, pulling her off her feet. She fell on her back with a grunt, knocking her sword from her hands. Glancing up, the spider queen used two of its front legs to draw her in with its webbing.

"Valin, I got a bit of a problem," she said, trying not to sound too frantic.

"Fuck, you've got to be kidding me," Valin said.

Limping over, he snatched up Saveen's sword and chased after his elven friend, blood flowing down his leg. The spider worked fast and had a few feet left before dragging Saveen back through the gate. Valin gasped in pain and for air as he ran up and sliced at the webbing.

The fire from the blade cut through it quickly. The spider screeched in anger as Valin snatched up Saveen and dragged her as far as he could. Saveen struggled to get on her feet as the webbing held them together. Valin used her sword to cut the silk bonds.

She jumped up and joined Valin in a hasty retreat. After some distance, she stopped and turned back toward the tower. The giant spider stood at the gate, watching them. Saveen shuddered but waited. She had to know where that thing came from.

"What are we waiting for?" Valin asked, wrapping his leg as tight as he could. He downed a small vial of liquid and relaxed a bit. "That hit the spot."

Saveen smiled. Of all the people to have a small healing potion, it would be him. She doubted it had healed his leg entirely, but at least he wouldn't lose any more blood. For that, she was grateful.

"I need to see it disappear or return to where it came from. The others popped up from the ground, but this one came out of nowhere," she said.

"I'm not going back, so I don't care," said Valin.

The spider queen shrieked and retreated. Saveen let out a breath she didn't realize she held. The wall was too high for her to see where it went, and she could only figure out that it had a nest on the other side of the tower and a web she didn't notice when they came in.

"I wonder what's keeping them inside?" She asked a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"That's still an ''I don't care to answer for me.'' Whatever is keeping all those things inside the walls, then I'm fine with it," Valin replied. "I don't want to sound cowardly, but there's not enough treasure to warrant me going back there."

Saveen turned and smiled. "Now, I never thought I'd hear from you."

"Don't be telling everyone either."

"They need to know about this place. Maybe Malanna knows something about it, and she's the one who apprenticed under an archmage as a child," Saveen said.

"Let's leave here and ask her when we're a few thousand miles away. Maybe tell the baron the place is empty."

Saveen smiled. The bastard deserved his fate, considering he lied to them. The man had no honor or morals in his life, and she wasn't one to teach lessons like that. The gods would take care of him at some point.

"Let's go, Valin. I agree. We must put as much distance between them and us as possible."

Saveen Elendel walked away from the tower with Valin by her side. As he chatted about endless treasure and wanted to filet the baron, she couldn't help but look back at the building. Though it slowly receded into the distance, she swore the spider queen was on top of the tower, looking back at them. She shuddered and put that thought out of her head. There's no way it could be watching them… right?

***

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