Chapter 16 — Played Like a Puppet

Jakyra found herself between a rock and a hard place. No wait, many, many rocks and a hard place. Slamming the cobbled-up barricade covering the stairway didn’t even make it budge, the tightly-packed column of pebbles shoving her back. She stumbled, swerving to snarl at the olitiau with the weird puppet-doll thing in its claws.

“Sauda, why didn’t you get the artifact?” the dragon rhetorically said as floating rocks streamed out from the large doors behind the demonic bat. Like anyone would hear her anyway, the high-pitched cackles and shrieks of attacking olitiaus made tuning in to her own voice a strain.

Too low a ceiling to fly, she thought to herself, being extra thankful that dragons didn’t rely on flight so much. She looked to the side, horns somehow picking up Gunnar and Bills’s yells as flying pellets of stone and olitiaus targeted them. And great, they’re getting into a rubble full of trouble.

She turned, pushing past two demon-bats and throwing her body in between the dwarves and their attacks. Claws and stone scraped her scales, but Jakyra tolerated the pain and slashed back, forcing the cryptids on the retreat.

She then shot a glance at the dwarves, who acknowledged her aid and regrouped as clumps of rocks and much larger olitiaus came their way. Together in the hazy darkness they warded off the tides of chaos, metal whacking and fists clubbing as Jakyra scanned the room for Sauda’s presence. Wherever did she go?

Her body twisted as Bills shouted Gunnar’s name, the dwarf in question stepping out of their circle towards a lone olitiau to cut off its head. “No worries!” he said while looking away from the blood spilled. “It’s as good as dead—”

His voice went to a wheezing gasp as the decapitated bat head rose in the air, eyes rolled back in a lifeless state, and sank its fangs into his shoulder. Jakyra flicked it off with a gag, but the damage was done: a duo of punctures through his clothing, the darkness desaturating the flowing red blood into grayscale.

Why did Gunnar have to do that? This was all falling apart.

Jakyra thrust her fist at an alive olitiau, then grabbed an incoming ceramic pot — Neither scissors nor paper, but it sure beats a rock, she supposed — and bonked another cryptid unconscious with it. Her brows furrowed as olitiau corpses all over rose, except their limbs, wings, and heads were dangling towards the floor. They weren’t alive nor undead in any sense, but they moved towards her and the others just like the rocks did. Their limbs flailed comically once they got close.

Realization struck Jakyra, as did the foot of a corpse she instantly slapped aside. “The doll-puppet possesses non-living things!” she shouted.

Darn, she inwardly told herself as she dealt with the rest of the controlled bodies. As if I didn’t slay enough jokes about death back when we were dealing with Iye’s smog and his constructed husks.

“So don’t kill.” Of all possible times, Sauda chose to dramatically appear beside her then. “For some reason the artifact user doesn’t target objects on our persons.” Her eyes narrowed, the elf too short to see his wound but realizing anyway from how he gingerly moved it.

Gunnar flinched from her withering gaze, realizing what the elf wanted from her. “I might’ve stepped away from the others and took a hit when not paying attention.”

“We’ll discuss this later.” Sauda sidestepped incoming piles of stones, backhanding an olitiau with her weapon. She pulled out a container of healing ointment and offered it to the dwarf, right before finding Bills using his own gel and dabbing it on Gunnar’s wound. “Jakyra?”

Oh sure, put me in charge. The pink coairse accessed the situation, allowing a smirk as the olitiaus regrouped near their puppeteering commander and the rock pelting stopped momentarily. Finally, a reprieve from tanking all those pellets that chipped her poor scales.

She and her group were dealing with a raised magic, some doll that could seemingly possess anything inanimate, from a group of olitiau who had made their home here and were technically defending it. The doll’s ability to affect its surroundings seemed crude, maybe because of its user, but either way it let rocks, pottery, and dead olitiaus fly towards them without care.

Jakyra mourned all the hits her sturdy body had to take on the dwarves’ behalf.

But the fact that they were holding back now suggested they were fed up with her and the others were still standing. The olitiaus seemed to be jabbering to the doll-puppet wielding olitiau, as if to plan a new course of attack. Or maybe to reconsider things and try parleying?

Yeah, hoping for that was stupid. This called for bold action.

Telling the dwarves to stay put, Jakyra rushed in, wings brushing the floor and sweeping dirt-ridden debris in the way of the olitiaus for a slice of confusion. A stroke of her forearm sent the olitiaus sprawling and rocks levitating her way in retaliation. She swatted the projectiles to the side, throwing herself into the heart of the crowd.

What happened next came as a blur. Definitely she didn’t kill, her attacks felt non-lethal and the only thing staining her claws was dust, but plenty of olitiaus screamed nonetheless. What she could recall was the horrified hissing the leader was making, attention devoted to her, and the thumping of pebbles bruising her hide. At some point she must’ve started grabbing cryptids to throw them at the rocks as a counterattack, the pounding of rocks let down for a white and the demonic bats seemed to scatter in fear.

Now who really is the devil here? she wondered.

She moved towards a large group when a barrier of stones moved in her way. Jakyra spun about to find the doll-puppet olitiau sneering in a silly way as it pieced together stones into hulking boulders, coming her way like falling meteors. The rock wall adjusted itself to restrict any attempt to get away.

But she didn’t pay much attention, mirth in her expression. Her tail twisted out of the way as the wall of rocks behind her fell apart, stones cascading to the floor. The puppet-doll olitiau gaped when the falling boulders fragmented mid-air much like the wall did, confused until it realized that it was no longer the puppet-doll olitiau.

It was now the olitiau with an empty-handed claw. At his side, Sauda went shadowed, the grinning doll in her hand blending into the darkness.

“Out!” Jakyra told the dwarves, who already were heading up the stairway as its stony barricade turned into a stream of falling pebbles. A flicker of what might’ve been Sauda’s blurring outline came into view overhead. The dragon took up the rear, giving the stunned olitiaus a warning glare to not follow.

Coming up the stairs, she put a wing to her chest to calm her ragged breath. Good thing those cryptids fell for her aggressive distraction. That whole ordeal put stress on her, the same kind she felt when tangling with Wynn’s elite guards. Or magic. Or both — stress was fun.

None of them were following though. A sure sign of victory. Looking back the olitiaus had chosen not to give chase, a few staring uncomfortably at her while the others chittered amongst themselves. Some were tending to their dead.

Jakyra let herself collapse on the top of the stairs, every muscle in her battered body sore. So many rocks had smashed against her scales, it was agony all over. She would be aching for a good couple of days, maybe a full week, and recalling that tomorrow she was to take care of registration with Sauda made her want to groan in protest. At least her wings were in decent shape.

But they did it. They got an artifact from a lair. If not for Gunnar’s close call, Jakyra would consider this day to be awesome.

At the top of the staircase, shreds of light revealed parts of Sauda’s murky, void-like form against the gray stone. “All good?” she asked the dwarves as she solidified back to her normal, not-so-dark self.

“Nice to know you had a healing ointment too,” Bills muttered, rubbing his chin fuzz.

Jakyra chuckled to herself before going still. Maybe she was a little dizzy, but Bills’s eyes seemed to widen in an odd way.

In that moment, Sauda instantly clamped harder on the puppet-doll artifact, glaring at a large yellow-orange bird — a phoenix — whose feet were tugging at it. What in Fantasmyth? Jakyra thought.

“Oh no, I’m caught,” the myith sarcastically said as he awkwardly fluttered there, his face dead enough in expression that the puppet-doll probably could control it. Hung on his neck was a tiny pendant portraying gusts of wind.

It took a short moment for Jakyra to realize what it did, but in that short time the pendant glowed, Sauda gasping as the phoenix yanked the puppet-doll and her along with it with unnatural force. No, unnatural speed, for the bird now blurred around Sauda and struck with swift attacks until she relented. The artifact slipped out of her palm and into the bird’s thieving grasp.

“ManyapologiesbutI’llbeconfiscatingthisoutofnecessity,” the bird said so quickly his words meshed together. “Consideryourselvesplayedlikeapuppet. Haveagooddaymygoodfolk!”

The ugly grin of the puppet-doll in his talons served as a parting jeer as the phoenix turned around. A split second later he zoomed into the horizon, disappearing altogether.

Jakyra had no words. The. What?

Sauda pulled herself up as the two dwarves let flies examine the insides of their hung mouths. Total silence. What broke the moment was the lightest tapping sound Jakyra had ever heard, the dragon looking down to find her talons clinking against stone as if in a trance.

“Godspeed,” The dragon finally said, lying down and clutching her forehead. “So excuse me, but would anyone care to explain WHAT JUST HAPPENED?” Elsewhere, alarmed bat screeches overlapped.

Her elf friend shrugged, as if there wasn’t any problem. “Same bird who woke up the olitiaus. He used us.”

“Yeah, I get that! It’s just—” Jakyra pounded the floor in frustration. This was just like what happened with Iye, a total repeat! They had just won, but then something just had to ruin the victory at the last moment! The thought of it all made her throat feel like it was clogged by bubbling acid.

Why? Why did these things keep happening? Who was doing this to her?

“It is what it is.”

Jakyra’s nostrils flared. A suppressed snarl came out of her throat as she slowly turned to Sauda.

“You’re being calm about this,” she said, controlling her voice to the best of her ability. “You’re being — how are you being calm about this? A phoenix just stole our hard-earned artifact!”

Sauda shook her head just as slowly. Her gray eyes mirrored the fire in the coairse’s own red ones. “Jakyra. Seven days ago you became a recently discovered artifact’s intermediary, fought Blodoggs and Iye, and joined the Omniguards. Five days ago I became in charge of said group. Two ridiculous events, and I adjusted fine.”

Jakyra held herself back at that, Bills raising an eyebrow at the term ‘Blodogg’ and Gunnar nervously chuckling. Well, when she put it that way, she had a point. The rage in her mind lost a portion of its heat, dwindling to embers.

But that didn’t mean she was going to forget this. Fine, she’d set the matter aside for now, fine! But no way she would ignore the suffering she went through to get that artifact, only for some phoenix with a pendant of mach-11 speed to mock and dash her moment of joy. This was a grievance, and returning the favor was the only appropriate response.

In her memory, she filed the bird, complete with his appearance and demeanor, on her list of ‘People Whose Iyes Should be Poked Out.’ The pun was intended.

As the group left the grotto proper, Bills chose to speak up. “So Gunnar, do you see now why I would rather you don’t join a—” he paused, waving circles with his finger. “Quick question, what does the Omniguards even count as? Mercenaries, bounty hunters, adventurers? Like, what is it you do?”

Sauda dropped her chin, thinking about it. “All-purpose security,” came her measured yet cheeky reply. “But simplified as anything ranger or mercenary related — protective services, reviled magic hunting, lair busting, and criminal catching.”

“Should’ve asked earlier. You strike me as fine company, but your job definitely seems deadly enough to do my brother in. Kid, don’t you realize what you’re in for by joining them?” He pointed at the two holes on the shoulder where Gunnar’s clothes were punctured. The wound had closed from the ointment’s effects, but the rips sufficed as scars.

Gunnar nodded. “But I can still join, right?”

“Oh my- Gunnar, do you have a rock for a brain?”

“I did get hit by plenty of those today.”

“You don’t say. I can’t believe you’re doing this to yourself, kid, this is going to get you hurt.” Bills clasped his brother’s hand. “Gunnar, I don’t want you getting hurt. I’ve seen you in action and all, but I also know the sight of blood unsettles you, the very team of adventurers you’re joining happens to host the very construct who’s been giving you panic attacks, and that the Omniguards have a quest that entangles them with people like Iye, the ethereals, you get my point. Me, Jor, your parents, we don’t want you getting into that kind of trouble, you aren’t meant for that.”

Gunnar kept his lips pressed the whole time Bills said this. Slowly the dwarf moved closer to Jakyra and Sauda, turning to face Bills much like he had done when insisting on going to the lair. Instead of folding his arms, however, he clasped them together as if to say sorry to his older brother.

Bills sighed, resting his free palm on his forehead before dragging Gunnar to a corner. Still trying to keep him out?

You were hoping as much when you first asked him, she reminded herself. That the poor dwarf wouldn’t get forced in by Ismat, anyway. And now here he is, and all I’m hearing from him is that he’s here to stay in this ‘heresy’ Omniguards. Huh, I think I forced that last bit of wordplay out.

She and Sauda shared a look. “I have no idea who Gunnar’s mentor is, but sheesh, he sure got him fired up to work with us.” Sauda nodded, observing the tirade Bills seemed to be having with Gunnar.

Jakyra waited it out, turning her head to a sky sparsely populated by clouds. Three words came to mind as the mountain air boiled around her. “That stupid bird.”

Finally the dwarves came back, Gunnar wearing a contorted, distant look. The sound of breathing coming out of Bill’s nostrils as he shook his head. “He’s too persistent. I go so far as to take Gunnar to this lair to show what he’d be in for by joining these Omniguards, and he ends up more attached to this little fantasy of his. Not even that bird’s underhanded trick can shake him.”

Jakyra could’ve sworn Sauda’s hand had shifted to where her masked mouth was the moment the dwarf mentioned the word ‘fantasy,’ like a chuckle had almost slipped out. Either way her eyes now seemed blank. “I feel you came not to negotiate—”

“—But to dissuade my brother?” Bills’s body tilted towards his younger brother, Gunnar lowering his head. The last of the flames in Jakyra’s head vanished as Bill’s silent confession captured her attention.

His next words came out slow and strained. “His parents, I’m sure you can understand how protective they get, insisted I somehow convince your lot to not take him in even after they reluctantly accepted. Maybe I’m being too protective myself, he isn’t that much of a kid now. I’m wondering how he managed to get enlisted for that exploration we did in the mines last week.”

Oh dear, familial issues. Jakyra didn’t know what it was like, but it must be rough having parents make maneuvers around their kid like that.

“Bills.” The younger dwarf seemed forlorn. “Why couldn’t you be honest about this? I thought—”

“I know.” Bills waved the thought of it away and faced Sauda. “I really can’t be the one to negotiate. I have to work this out with his parents and magic mentor, you get me? Just, look, I know there’s only one way this is going to unfold and I need you to make me a promise.”

A sigh. “Please, no matter what you are doing, no matter what situations you get into, protect my brother. Don’t let him get hurt. Don’t let him… don’t let him die.”

Jakyra shuddered. More meat shielding on my part, yay. But touched by Bills’s plea, the only right thing to do was to at least nod, and thus bind her herself to the promise. Sauda likewise gave her agreement, allowing Bills to at last be placated.

Gunnar took a little more time, torn on whether to be miffed at Bills’s confession or express gratitude at his abrupt request for his protection. His decision? A quivering, brotherly smile, one that Bills returned.

The group began walking off, the dungeon grotto shrinking away with every step. All grievances faded away with time, even Jakyra’s loathing for that blasted phoenix thief. What his deal was, she didn’t know, but it would have to wait. She had more important things to do.

“Gunnar.” Sauda suddenly went stern, the young dwarf almost stumbling as he meekly turned. “I’ll ignore how you stepped out of line earlier this once, but if you’re to officially join I expect better. You must follow whoever’s in charge and not act rash. Understood?” The dwarf nodded in a half-craven, half-respectful way.

Sauda relaxed past that, moving on to Bills. “I’ve seen your letters about your brother’s mentor’s thoughts and will let Gunnar in on conditions. He will work as a partial member and will not need to be actively doing jobs. His role is reserved as our affiliated enchanter, and I will see if Ismat could possibly teach him anything about magic. Pay will be later discussed.”

Gunnar stiffened at the thought of Ismat teaching him, Bills laughing. “Now he’s realizing the gravity of his choices.” A smack to his shoulder only made the laughter worse.

“So hold on,” the younger dwarf asked as he retracted his fist. “Am I doing actual combat or not?”

“On occasion,” Sauda replied. “But no compulsion to do tasks. Ismat cannot order you as he might with me and Jakyra. We also will bar you from jobs deemed too dangerous for you. Your parents can negotiate to determine what the final terms will be.”

“Sounds fine,” Bills said. “Well, Gunnar?”

Gunnar’s smile grew wider. “I can work with that.”