Elsewhere

Duke appeared in the room he had targeted and immediately activated his SILENCE Ability focused on the door and walls, ceiling, and floor of the room. It took extra effort and concentration to only focus the Ability on those areas but it effectively soundproofed the room. Which ultimately turned out to be a smart move because he was greeted by a trio of shrieks from Axis’ daughters.

Axis’ wife stepped in front of her daughters. Pushing them behind her with her arms. “Who are you and what do you want?”

Duke’s XENOGLOSSIA could read the combination of fear and anger rippling across the woman’s face even if all she thought was showing was anger. He calmly turned to her and offered as gentle a smile as he could manage. “Peace, Salandra. My name is Duke and I am here to rescue you and get you four and Axis away from this horrible place.” Duke produced the necklace from his INVENTORY and held it out for her to see. “He says that you still owe him a moonlight dance.”

Salandra’s entire demeanor shifted. She visibly relaxed and stepped closer to take the necklace. “How…how is my husband?”

“He is as well as he can be, worry for you all is really eating him. It would probably be best if we left here as soon as possible. I don’t want us to be trapped here if the king’s men decide to come in.”

“Yes, but how are we going to get out? The guards outside the door are very high-level.”

“Just gather around me and I’ll take care of it. No need to worry.” Duke said with complete confidence. With a weak smile of hopefulness, Salandra gathered her children around Duke. The youngest daughter latched onto his shirtsleeve.

Duke smiled at all of them. “Are you ready for a little ride? Good. Here we go!” He activated TELEPORT with a full 200,000 extra Mana. When the Ability activated, he felt something odd. It felt like something was trying to block his Ability but the extra Mana he had poured into it just blasted through whatever resistance there was. He appeared in Jablach’s training room with his four passengers in tow.

Axis flashed across the room, sweeping Saladra up in a crushing hug. He quickly pulled his daughters in as well, tears flowing from his eyes. “I thought we would never be back together again.”

“Me neither. I thought we were to be trapped in that room for the rest of our lives, only able to see you once a year.”

“Duke.” Axis said, his voice stern and authoritative. “You have re-united me with my family. I cannot repay the debt I owe you but you have my mark should you ever have need of it. Anywhere. Anytime. Call upon me, and I will be there.”

Duke knew better than to deny such an oath but decided to shift the conversation. “We have little time. I believe the king may be aware that something is happening. It won’t do for me to get you all freed from the arena only to have you trapped in the city.”

Axis stepped away from his family bidding them to follow. “Come to my office, everyone should be gathered there.” He paused for a moment. “Or in the hallway outside my office. Sending everyone there wasn’t the smartest of my ideas. Regardless, let’s hurry.” He scooped up his youngest daughter and they all followed him to see the crowd stuffing the hallway outside his office.

“Yep. Bad idea.” Axis stated. “Everyone! Make way to the dining hall. There’s not enough room for all of us here.” He and Duke, who had swept up Axis’ youngest daughter turned towards the dining hall and escorted Salandra, who had picked up their eldest daughter, to the dining hall. Dozens of people filed in behind them. Soon, the dining hall was nearly full.

Duke turned to Axis, “I don’t remember there being this many people in Leviathan.”

Axis smiled. “There aren’t. Did you think that we would withhold freedom from members of other factions?”

Duke smiled back. “No, but I know there was some significant tension between the factions and I had no expectations of them trusting me.”

“It’s not you they are trusting.” Axis replied, allowing his words to sink in, he continued in a much louder voice. “Everyone!” He waited for the crowd to quiet down. “Some of you know Duke here. Most of you do not know him but have at least heard of him. He has collected items that Chopie was holding as leverage. He has even brought my family back to me.”

The crowd started quickly discussing this and Axis gave them a few moments to speak before starting back up. “Anyone who wishes to discuss what Chopie was holding over them with Duke to see if he has retrieved it may do so. Please form a line behind Challen over here. Do not be overly long as we will not be waiting long before departing.”

It did not take long to form the line and Duke stepped forward to start making his way through them all. It took him a bit over an hour to get through them and he was pleased that he was able to help the vast majority of them. The only ones he hadn’t been able to help had been the ones who, like Axis, had loved-ones held hostage.

The ones who were still “trapped” looked at each other as they moved to the far side of the room and out the door. Duke leaned over to Axis and asked quietly. “Are they going to be a problem?”

“Likely, yes. They know the only way they can keep any favor with the king is to turn the rest of us in. If we are going to leave, we need to do so soon.” Axis’ voice grew strained as he looked over to his family.

Duke waited another minute to allow those who left to get further away before he called them all to quiet down. “Everyone! We have to leave. The king knows something is up so gather around me. I will take us all out of here to a place that is a whole lot safer. If you don’t want to go, leave the room. I’ll give you one minute.”

Thirty seconds later, the sound of booted feet was heard echoing down the hall and getting closer. Duke worked his way through the crowd and stepped out the door and into the hallway. What he saw coming around the corner took him by surprise. It was unclear whether he was more shocked or disappointed. City guards were charging down the hallway led by a rather familiar orc, now clad in Stone faction colors.

Tukelstan shouted back to the guards he was leading. “See, there they are. Just like I told you!”

Duke felt a white-hot flash of anger overcome him. “Dude, you are the dumbest piece of shit I have ever met. I let you live once, even gave you a chance to be free. I’m not going to make that same mistake again.” Duke concentrated on his TELEPORTATION Ability and activated it, blasting past the orc’s meager willpower and natural defenses.

The city guard stopped in their tracks as they were greeted by the squishy mess of a boneless orc body collapsing in a horrifying puddle in front of them. The orc’s skeleton clattered to the floor in pieces two meters beyond. The pile of flesh burbled as the dying orc attempted to speak but was unable to do so without any bones.

As one, the guards turned tail and ran. Duke lowered his clenched fist and turned back to the room. He was greeted with hard gazes. These were all veterans of the arena and had seen horrors upon horrors. They were unfazed by the sight of death for they had seen more than their share, but more than a few were taken aback at Duke’s display of power.

“As I said, either we leave now, or we will have to fight our way out. Anyone not ready to go?” Duke’s calm demeanor settled some frayed nerves but set others to even greater nervousness. Regardless of how they felt, they all realized that it was time to go and leaving together was the safest way out. None of them feared fighting but leaving sounded like a real good idea at this point.

Duke gathered his power and activated TELEPORTATION with a full four hundred thousand Mana, nearly emptying his Mana pool. Again, he felt resistance, and it was much stronger now, but his enhanced Ability blasted through, and the entire group appeared in the courtyard of the Inn.

Duke spent another 2,000 of his Mana to activate a pair of larger RESTORE and CLEANSE Abilities before speaking loudly over the crowd. “Welcome to the Lake Front Inn. Everyone head in and you will find rooms ready for you.” Duke instructed the wide-eyed gladiators. “Axis, would you and your family come with me, please.”

“Certainly. Salandra, Katie, Lynne, Carolanne, come along and join our friend, Duke inside.” The children clung to their father and mother as Duke led them inside and straight up to Calen.

“Calen, this is Axis, Salandra, Katie, Lynne, and Carolanne. They are special guests of mine. Please give them a suite on the fourth floor with additional rooms. Each of the girls are to have a room of their own as well.”

Calen smiled. “It shall be as you say, Your Grace. If you will follow me, I will show you to your room so that you can get settled.”

Duke added after a moment’s thought. “Calen, all our new guests came here with only their own clothes on their backs. See that clothing and whatever else they need is provided. Warm meals and cold drinks would also be welcomed. Make it known that I wish to meet with them all in the morning.”

Axis looked Duke in the eyes and solemnly stated. “My debt to you only grows. Your generosity is unlike any other I know.”

Duke gazed back, equally solemnly, “Look, I couldn’t let Chopie keep you all imprisoned if I could do something about it. I found a way to do something, so I did. Not a big deal. Go on up to your rooms and we can talk later or in the morning.”

As they followed Calen upstairs, Duke overheard their conversation. “He was one of your fighters?” Salandra asked Axis.

“He was. Falsely imprisoned and targeted for death by whoever makes those decisions. His fight for his life and ultimate escape from the arena is the stuff of legend. Totally pissed the king off.”

“I like him even more now.” Salandra added smiling.

Duke smiled to himself as they disappeared from sight. He immediately felt a hand on his shoulder. “We have unfinished business, you and I.” He turned to see Aurelia not wearing her armor but rather wearing a form-fitting, low-cut dress. His mind locked up and she smiled to herself as she dragged him off.