Playing For Keeps (Alpha World Book 4) Read online

  Alpha World

  Book Four:

  Playing for Keeps

  Daniel Schinhofen

  Copyright © 2018 Daniel J. Schinhofen

  No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form by an electronic or mechanical means – except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews – without the written permission from the publisher.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Copyright © 2018 Daniel J. Schinhofen

  All rights reserved.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter One

  Alburet trailed after the others, arm in arm with Stacia as they entered the Portal Guild. He smiled at the shocked faces of the few players who were hanging out in the waiting area. He even gave the sour looking receptionist an eyebrow waggle.

  The line moved steadily, if slowly, up the stairs as almost a hundred people made their way to the Dead Lands portal. Alburet leaned over to Stacia to whisper into her ear, “Before we go through I’m going to summon your copy, as well as Bob and Tiny.”

  “As ya wish,” Stacia murmured back, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze.

  Eventually, they stood in front of the portal, the last ones to go through. Alburet used Copy on Stacia, then summoned Bob and Tiny, “Dead Lands, guys. Be on your guard.”

  Not waiting for a reply, he stepped through the portal. Blinking against the bright light of the sun, he found himself in the midst of the milling raid group. “Groups form up,” he called out, “Mercenary captain?”

  A dwarf with a solid grey streak in his beard stepped over, “I be Captain Banthor Ironshield of Gold Runners, at your service for the next year, Alburet.”

  Extending a hand, Alburet clasped forearms with the dwarf. “A pleasure, sir. Have you talked to my second in command, Gerald?”

  “Aye, we be the perimeter group on the trip out to the keep. Do nay worry, lad, me guild can do this. We have enough healers to revive any that get killed, as well. Captain Roberto be holding the inner perimeter with ye groups as backup. The artisans be in the very middle to keep them safest.”

  “Well, it seems I didn’t need to speak with you after all. Let’s just do a check to make sure everyone is ready.” Alburet turned to the group at large and raised his voice, “Check your gear. We’ll be out in the Dead Lands for about two weeks, or so. If you need to grab any last minute supplies, speak up now.”

  As he waited for a response, one of the gate guards came over to speak with Gerald. Alburet noted the exchange, nodding as a few of his guildmates said they should get some more food. “Alright. Fifteen minutes, then we head out. Go get your provisions. Ladies and gentlemen, we are heading out in fifteen, with or without you.”

  “Alburet,” Gerald called out as ten Alpha Company members bolted for the fort. “The gate guard tells me that the commander here would like a word with you.”

  A fleeting grimace crossed Alburet’s face, “I’ll try to make this quick so I’m not the slowpoke holding us up.” He scanned the crowd for a moment before he found who he wanted. With Stacia in tow he sought out Captain Roberto. “Captain, the Commander of this keep wishes to speak with me. I would appreciate it if you would accompany me, please?”

  “Of course, Alburet,” Roberto nodded. “Miss, you should stay here with the others. Commander Bernault is a bit old fashioned when it comes to wives.”

  Stacia gave him a broad smile, “If ya think tha’ be best, Captain.” She gave Alburet a quick kiss on the cheek, “We will be waitin’ for ya, Asthore.”

  Motioning Tiny, Bob, and Kitten to follow him, Alburet followed Roberto toward the main building of the fort. Bob spoke up, “We aren’t heading out?”

  “The commander wants to talk first,” Alburet replied. “You three might have to wait outside, but I feel naked without my minions.”

  “You also get naked with your minions,” Bob coughed as he eyed Stacia’s demon form, which sported the name Kitten.

  “You have two wives, Bob, no need to be like that now,” Alburet gently rebuffed the imp.

  Bob looked a touch chagrinned, but chuckled, “Sorry, old habits.”

  Tiny raised a brow, his eyes narrowing, “Bob? Is that you?”

  Alburet couldn’t help laughing as he clapped Tiny on the shoulder. Bob was visibly shocked, having been taken completely off guard by Tiny’s quip. “Seems like Tiny is growing as well, Bob. Might want to be careful or he’ll end up the brains of the group.”

  The gate guard saluted Roberto as they passed. Bob huffed, “Pick on the imp day, is it? Fine, see if I invite you to any of my parties.”

  “Now, now, Bob. Do nay act like tha’,” Kitten said as she giggled. “Ya deserve a little back at times.”

  Roberto looked back at Alburet’s minions, “Lively bunch you have there.”

  “You have no idea,” Alburet chuckled. “Wait until you’ve been around them for a few days.”

  Roberto nodded warily, “I shall take that as fair warning.” He turned to the guards at the keep door. “Commander Bernault asked to speak with Alburet, I will be accompanying him.”

  “Sir,” the guard replied with a salute to Roberto, “if you will follow me, Sir.” He turned to face Alburet, “Sir, your minions must remain outside the fort. Those are the orders from Commander Bernault.”

  “Very well,” Alburet agreed. “Tiny, Bob, Kitten, wait here until I return.”

  Alburet’s minions all gave affirmative answers, stepping off to the side of the doorway. The second guard led Alburet and Roberto into the fort proper, past the Sergeants’ desks and up the stairs. The commander’s office was on the top floor. The guard knocked once, and a gruff voice responded with, “Enter.”

  Commander Bernault sat behind his desk, leafing through paperwork. A bald head came up as they entered behind the guard. The grizzled man behind the desk, with a plethora of jagged scars that covered his face, was frowning.

  Captain Roberto and Alburet came to a stop a few feet from the desk, saluting as they did. “You asked for me, Commander?” Alburet asked.

  Lips twitching into an even more severe frown, Bernault eyed him. “Alburet the Two-souled. I’d heard about your race change, but I didn’t want to believe such a thing was possible. The Dark Lord changing people into Half-Bl
ood Infernals, it’s disgusting. Why have you and your guild come to the Dead Lands? You’re not strong enough for this area.”

  Clearing his throat once, Captain Roberto spoke up. “Sir, they have with them about a hundred people who can handle themselves here. We are escorting them into the Dead Lands in search of one of the abandoned keeps.”

  Bernault grunted, his lips puckering as if he sucked on a lemon, “How did a new guild like Alpha Company come by enough influence to pull this off? Or even the coin to finance such an undertaking?”

  Alburet chuckled as a grin came to his lips, “I made some friends, Commander. Such as Captain Roberto here, who is with me by the grace of the King, via Sir Jones.”

  Eyes narrowing further, Commander Bernault snorted, “So not through deeds, but politics. Figures.”

  Alburet was getting annoyed at the Commander’s tone and didn’t try very hard to hide it as he replied, “Deeds, actually. Vladimir provided the mercenaries that are with us as repayment for a few favors I did for him. Sir Jones, I have provided valuable information and artifacts to, and he is with us too.”

  “You do realize all those old keeps need extensive work to make them usable?” Commander Bernault sneered, “I hope you knew that, before possibly leading these men to their deaths.”

  “That is why I have crafters with us as well, provided by Lord Theron. I do need to get my guild moving, so if there is nothing else Commander Bernault?” Alburet eyed the Commander, who was clearly unimpressed.

  “That ‘person’,” he spat the word, “might have been given the title, but he is not Lord Theron.” Commander Bernault got to his feet, “You are dismissed, Alpha Company.”

  Alburet and Roberto each saluted the commander before leaving the room. Captain Roberto led them down the stairs and out of the keep proper. “Hmm, didn’t know he was so biased against Half-Bloods.”

  “Wonder what affected my good rep with the guards, to be blasted like that?” Alburet rubbed his chin as he considered what had just happened.

  Slowing, Roberto nodded, “That is a valid question. I believe Commander Bernault is a friend of Gilden House.”

  “Fucking Skippy,” Alburet sighed. “Oh well, it’s not like they can cause any issues out in the dunes.”

  “True enough,” Roberto agreed as they exited the main gates.

  “We good?” Gerald asked as they came out of the gates.

  “Good enough. The Commander is a friend of House Gilden, who decidedly doesn’t like me. He wanted to voice a few opinions. It’s done now, though. Are we ready to move out?”

  “We are,” Gerald replied, motioning to the mass of people grouped in a rough formation and ready to move. “It looks a little odd until you’re inside the ring of mercenaries, then it makes more sense.”

  Alburet followed Gerald to their place in the group. “Alright, Alpha Company, move out.”

  At his command, the hundred plus people began to move at a steady pace out into the Dead Lands, heading due east. As they walked, Alburet looked over the groups to double check that everyone was fine.

  The mercenaries took up the outer perimeter in five man teams which were arranged in a thick block around the rest of the raid. The idea was that they would be the first to grab aggro on any monsters that might lie buried under the sands, or a bulwark against things that came charging at them.

  In the very center of the formation, the twenty crafters walked together in a clump. Each had bags with them that carried their tools, food, and gear they needed for the trip. Between those two groups, the guards and Alpha Company were in groups of ten, five from each set. The plan was that if anything managed to breach the outer perimeter, the guards would intercede for Alpha Company.

  “Well, the formation looks good,” Alburet commented.

  “I thought it would work,” Gerald smiled. “After talking with Captain Roberto, he thought mixing the guards and Alpha Company was better than separate groups, and I concurred.”

  “Please, just call me Roberto while we’re away from the city. At the moment, I’m just the head of this detachment. Normally this would be a Sergeant’s assignment, but Sir Jones put a high priority on this mission and on getting a proper guard set up at the keep. He decided I would be the best choice, especially since I have previously had positive interactions with Alburet before.”

  “Did I hear right about the commander giving you grief?” Ioaniss asked.

  “Seems he’s a friend of House Gilden, which holds me in the lowest regard,” Alburet shrugged. “He insinuated and groused, but nothing else. I doubt we can count on help from the fort, but I don’t plan on any of us ending up back there, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”

  Ioaniss nodded, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “So, two weeks of desolate dunes?” Karen asked as they trudged along at a steady pace.

  The warm sun beat down on them, the only sound besides the voices of the people was the soft breeze. It was odd to see such a lifeless place, with the sun just a moderate warmth on them insead of a sweltering heat normally associated with deserts. The only issue they faced was a gust ocassionally making a dust-devil that made people shield their eyes against the sand.

  “There is nothing of note out here besides the ruins we’ve occasionally found,” Ioaniss answered her. “No plants, animls, or insects live out here. Only Infernals and Undead of various sorts. Oh, and the Sand Worms.”

  “Sand Worms?” Marysue asked, “Can you tell us more about those?”

  Grinning, Ioaniss launched into a detailed description of the Sand Worms and their habits and abilities. Alburet was reminded of the Worms from the classic Dune series. “The smallest ones can swallow a man whole, but the big ones can swallow an entire group,” Ioaniss was saying, “With this many people moving across the sands it’s likely that we’ll start seeing them a few days into the dunes. Your guild being underleveled for this area will also bring in every other monster between us and our destination. You’re like a lunch bell to the monsters here, so many tasty snacks with no ability to defend yourselves properly.”

  “But that’s where they’ll be wrong. We have you folks to protect us,” Alburet laughed.

  “We do appreciate it,” Stacia added. She kept her eyes moving as they walked, and her hands hovered near her blades. “Ya be most kind an’ generous to us, Sir Jones.”

  “It seems fair recompense for the services that Alburet has done for The Crown and me thus far. Besides, I’m truly interested in seeing one of the keeps deep in the Dead Lands. This expedition works in favor of the crown as well, giving us the chance to establish a foothold to push deeper into the Dead Lands.”

  “I haven’t been out here in years, I wonder if things have changed much?” Captain Roberto added softly.

  “We’ll find out as we go,” Gerald added. His shield was strapped to his left arm and his other hand rested on his weapon.

  “I will do my best when anything attacks us,” Marysue added. “But having the others here to aid us will be helpful, as well.”

  The priest in golden robes near Marysue nodded his head in acknowledgement. “We will do our best, miss. You are likely to fall from only one or two attacks from the monsters here, though. At the very least, we will revive you should you fall.”

  “No one will fall,” Tiny rumbled, “I will not fail.”

  Alburet winced, “Tiny, you haven’t gotten upgraded at all yet and these things have easily four times your power. I want you to remember that if things do go badly.”

  Tiny grudgingly gave a small nod, “As the master wishes.”

  Chapter Two

  The first attack came less than an hour into their trek. The sand in front of the lead group erupted as a group of five skeletons with battered armor and weapons appeared. The order to halt went out as the front mercenary group engaged the mobs. The dunes to either side of the travelers shifted, and similar groups of mobs appeared to either side. Groups on each flank took a few steps forward to intercept the new attack
ers.

  “Well, this is going to be an eventful trip,” Ioaniss chuckled as he watched the closest group engage the skeletons.

  Alburet looked to the other flank. With the raid UI up, he could see the damage the defending group was taking. He was able to catch a clear view of one of the skeletons and get identifying information on it.

  Forgotten Guard

  Level 81

  100,000/100,000 health

  A small whistle escaped Gerald, “Wow, that is a little intimidating.”

  “If we piled onto one of them we might be able to take it,” Karen mused, though she didn’t sound entirely certain.

  “That group is taking more damage than I could keep up with at this level,” Marysue added.

  “Which would be bad,” Fluff tacked on.

  “We’ll stay out of it for now. We’ll find out first hand how bad it is when we get to our destination,” Alburet told them.