Chapter 5

I am The Thomas Frewdenburg and we’ve finally reached the end of Belphor’s map, and the fake wall should be right in front of me. I spot the crow insignia Belphor told me to look out for. I feel against the slimy, damp brick and find a loose spot. I push through, and light peeks in. With the mighty strength of the Firbolg, I blast through the brick, giving way to a bloody room full of devices I will forgo describing as the sight of them alone terrifies and disgusts me. Down a hallway lined with cells, I spot a weeping Cryo.

“Cryo are you crying?” I ask, choking back laughter.

“I’m not crying,” He lies. “The blood’s just getting in my eyes.” I give him a moment to realize. “Wait, THOMAS!” He screams as he slams against the bars.

“Alright, all this noise, I’m just leaving.”

“You can’t leave me!!!” he weeps even louder.

“I’m joking, damn!”

David finds a key ring hanging on the wall, and I use it to free Cryo. He bounds onto me with a hug, and I attempt to shove him off. Sadly, a Fighter’s strength severely outclasses a Bard’s, even a Firbolg Bard’s.

“I never thought you would ever save me.” Cryo cries.

“Gnomeo already has the supplies,” I say as Cryo finally loosens his grip, “and he is decoding the messages. I suppose I had no reason not to.”

“Before we leave,” Cryo remembers, “we should save this old man.”

“Yeah apparently he’s Belphor’s father or something.”

“Actually there’s a greater importance to their rela–”

“I don’t care, is he coming or not.”

“Stop interrupting me, damn. As I was saying he told me tha–”

“I will stay here…” the old man whispers.

“You can't stay here,” Cryo retorts. “What about the choices you have yet to make? What about Belphor’s lineage…”

“My son doesn’t need me… I failed him, as well as the rest of this country… This is penance for all of my mistakes…”

“Okay! Let's get moving!” I say as I don’t have time for philosophy or dead men. Cryo refuses to leave him, so David and I wrestle him through the wall. Cryo manages to leave the keys next to his cell, so if he ever “chooses” to leave, he can. I know I promised Belphor, but I don’t particularly care if we retrieve his father.

We make our way back through the sewers. Cryo is unarmed, David is incompetent, and I barely have any offensive spells. We cannot afford to run into anyone.

“Well, well, well,” a deep voice echoes from the darkness. “Oh mighty sword, illuminate my path.” A sword begins to glow, and slowly grows in brightness, revealing a man in fantastic garb. The aura he emanates makes me sick. Or it's the sewer stench, I don’t know…

“Varys,” Cryo says dramatically.

“In the flesh!” He responds. “You really don’t think I’d know about my own secret entrances? I created this route during the uprising 15 years ago!” A crow-masked goon walks from behind the man with a small rapier. He tosses it towards Cryo and Varys says, “Pick it up.”

“Why?” Cryo asks as he cautiously prepares himself for battle. I really don't want to fight this guy. David unstows his quarterstaff, gearing up as well.

“Because, we’re going to fight of course.” Varys says as he flicks his awesome cape. “Fight me and die, or die anyway,” he says as an evil smirk creeps across his face.

“RUN!” Cryo shouts as he bounds towards Varys.

“Run?” I ask. “I don’t think we’re getting away from this guy!”

David is right behind Cryo, joining him in the action. Cryo swings his sword at Varys’s neck and the attack is promptly deflected. David follows up from below, swinging his quarterstaff upwards against his Varys’ chin. Varys blocks the attack with his elbow, but it clearly did some damage still.

“DIE!!” Cryo shouts as he swings the rapier again, so fast that I can barely keep up visually. The rapier places a critical strike in Varys’ abdomen. The crow-masked goon begins an incantation, but Varys screams, “No!” promptly putting the minion in their place. David throws a flurry of kicks and punches at Varys, most of which landing on non crucial areas. I begin to take a step back. I mean, he did tell me to run, but we’re winning. Sadly, if they lose, I can’t let it be my fault. I sprint towards Varys, preparing a song, but before I can close the distance, Cryo and David are both flung past me.

“My turn!” Varys shouts.

I can’t even blink before Varys dashes past me and jabs the blade through Cryo’s heart before he even hits the ground. He’s separated me from David.

I instinctually go invisible and try to get away. Varys stands there unfazed and stares at me. In confusion, I grab confetti in my pocket and throw it into the air. With the strum of my bandolin, the confetti sprays Varys in the face. I try to slowly walk away, but Varys never breaks contact with me, even with confetti. I wave my hand at him, and he waves back. The bastard has Blindsight.

I look back, and David is frightened by Cryo’s execution. He’s a simple Monk, he doesn’t even understand the true threat of the situation. If Varys catches him, there’s nothing he can do, and we all can’t die here!

I run towards Varys, and grapple his collar. My invisibility drops, and I shout to David, “You cannot fall here!” David finally gets to his feet, and looks to me with enormous sadness. “Go!!!” I yell desperately. David swiftly dashes down the corridor. Varys subsequently punctures my liver with his blade.

“I will commend your sacrifice, by allowing him to flee,” Varys proclaims. “Men like us sacrifice too much for others. Cryo said ‘such is the duty for the strong’”

I can’t believe I’m dying for David. Varys slowly lowers me to the ground. “I have a duty cough cough to no one…” I groan as I cough blood.

“Well then you’re just as foolish as your attire” Varys plunges the blade through my throat. I think I can see the void.