The Orphan Wars (Book One) (18 page)

"Alright, what do we have to do in this room
?" asked Nemeth.

The
room they were in was even larger than before.  There was grass about ankle-high throughout.  The ceiling in this room was at least 50 feet high.  Several hundreds of feet away, it appeared that there was a glowing object in the center of the room.  Nemeth pulled out the spyglass from his backpack.  He focused the spyglass and pointed it in the direction of the glowing object.

"It's the largest treasure chest I've seen so far!" exclaimed Nemeth.
"It doesn't look like there's too much else in here either, so let's rush after it!"

Nemeth took a couple of steps forward when all of a sudden the entire room be
gan to shake.  A large hedge maze covering nearly the entire area of the room began ascending from the ground.

"Looks like we can't rush after it now," said Jaida.  "I'll be your guide through the maze since I can move back and forth through the walls of the maze.  I'll tell you every single move you need to make to get to the treasure chest and out of the maze.
  How does that sound master?"

"We're pressed for time," replied Nemeth.  "I know you've said it a lot in the past and now I'm saying it.  You were right and
I'm finally able to accept it as fact.  I've got a couple of other strategies that I think will get us through the maze faster.  We'll use your plan as a last resort.  No offense."

Nemeth drew his sword and began to hack at the
walls of the hedge maze which was still ascending from the ground.  It was approximately six feet tall now and looked as if it was going to continue growing until it hit the ceiling.  The walls of the hedge maze regenerated themselves similarly to how the bushes regenerated themselves back in the Illusari Forest.  Nemeth was furious.

"Let's just go with my plan master," said Jaida.  "We will still make good time getting to Terazhul."

"You said it was important for me to figure out things on my own," replied Nemeth.  "Watch and see what I'm capable of."

Nemeth walked about seven
feet into the hedge maze and turned to his left.  The hedge maze continued to grow and looked as if it were 16 feet high now.  Nemeth let out a loud scream and began to run up the hedge maze.  He took about nine steps vertically and then repelled himself off of the left side of the hedge maze and managed to grab hold of the top part of the opposite side of the hedge maze entrance.  He pulled himself up and laid flat on his stomach while digging into the hedge maze with his fingertips and the tips of his boots.  He closed his eyes and waited patiently as the hedge maze continued to ascend.

"Master!" shouted Jaida.  "The ceiling is comple
tely covered with spikes about five feet in length.  If the hedge maze continues to grow, you will be impaled by them!  The hedge maze has risen to about 24 feet now.  You can still manage to make it down safely if you use your sword or daggers to climb down."

"I'm not going
to give up on my plan just yet!" yelled Nemeth.  "If I come within six feet of the spikes, let me know and I'll roll off and climb down."

Nemeth opened his eyes and turned his head to the right side.  In his peripheral vision he could
see the spikes above.  Nemeth started to sweat profusely but still maintained his grip.  At about 35 feet up, the hedge maze stopped its ascension.  Nemeth stood up on top of the hedge maze.  He raised his arm up in the air but was unable to reach the spikes.  He was safe from being impaled.

"I told you my plan was going to work!" exclaimed Nemeth.  "I can see exactly where the treasure chest is
from here.  I just have to balance myself up here without falling."

Plumes of smoke began to arise down below.  Nemeth looked below and saw that monsters had appeared throughout the hedge maze.

"Jaida, I need a favor," said Nemeth.  "I need you to go as far ahead as possible and make sure that the monsters aren't able to hit me with any ranged attacks."

"Yes master," replied Jaida.  "I will float ahead and scan the area."

Nemeth managed to balance himself easily on top of the hedge maze.  A series of short jumps allowed him to take shortcuts all the way from where he started to the center of the hedge maze.  Jaida came floating back over to Nemeth.

"I have news to report," said Jaida.  "The treasure chest in the center is being guard
ed closely by five Troll Warriors and a Troll Warlord.  A single Troll Warrior has an overall threat score of 9,400 out of a possible 1,000,000 points.  The overall threat level to you is low.  The Troll Warlord has an overall threat score of 42,500 out of a possible 1,000,000 points.  Its overall threat level to you is fairly low."

"Then it's time to kill them all," said Nemeth
quietly.  "We need to lure them over here first so I can get down."

"HEY TROLLS!" screamed Nemeth.  "Look up here!
  I'm here to steal whatever is in that treasure chest.  Come over here and try to stop me!"

The Troll Warlord signaled for the Troll Warriors to head over to the hedge maze wall where Nemeth was standing on.
  The Troll Warlord remained guarding the treasure chest.  The Troll Warriors were obedient to the Troll Warlord and followed their orders.  They all walked carefully over to the hedge maze wall.  They looked up and began to poke their spears into the air.  They soon realized that they were incapable of reaching Nemeth so they tossed their spears aside and tried climbing the hedge wall.  Nemeth laughed as the Troll Warriors made attempt after attempt to climb the hedge wall only to fail.

"
HEY, I'M STILL UP HERE!" screamed Nemeth.  "But I won't be for much longer!  TRUST FALL!!!"

Nemeth dove off of top of the hedge maze wall and spread his arms wide like an eagle.  Before the Troll Warriors could even look up, Nemeth had already performed a crash landing onto
three out of the five of them.  Nemeth rolled off of the Troll Warriors he had just flattened and kicked up to his feet.  The two Troll Warriors that were not laid out on the ground scurried for their spears.  Nemeth ran towards the nearest Troll Warrior and jumped on its back before it could reach its spear.

"Where do you
think you're going?" asked Nemeth.  "You're not very good at catching people when they want to do a trust fall now are you?"

Nemeth turned the Troll Warrior's head far to the right.  He then forced the Troll Warrior's head far to the left causing its neck to snap.  The Troll Warrior fell to its death with Nemeth still on its back.  Nemeth rolled off the dead Troll Warrior and performed a
kip-up with no hands.  The other Troll Warrior that wasn't laid out on the ground had just reached its spear but it still had its back turned to Nemeth.  Nemeth walked on top of the chests of each of the Troll Warriors that were laid out over to the only standing Troll Warrior.  Nemeth tapped the Troll Warrior on its shoulder and then placed his arms at his sides.  The Troll Warrior turned around and saw Nemeth who appeared to be very non-threatening since he had his arms at his sides.

"
You've got a bunch of problems," said Nemeth.  "You're not good at trust falls either.  Even worse than that, you're just so slow.  I don't see how you are able to keep your job guarding the temple when you can't even handle a little kid like me.  If I were your boss, I would fire you."

"How disrespectful of you," replied the Troll Warrior.  "I'm no
t slow at all.  I am a great and proud warrior like most trolls are!"

"You can understand me!" exclaimed Nemeth.  "Oh, and you can talk back to me too.  This is just lovely!  How about I give you the benefit of the doubt?  I'll give you one free attack
on me with your spear.  Come on!  Attack me!  Give me your best shot!  Stick me with that spear and made me bleed!"

The Troll Warrior attempted to pierce Nemeth's throat with his spear.  Nemeth's hands qu
ickly moved from his sides and caught the spear on its shaft, just a few inches below the sharp tip.

"Just as I suspected," said Nemeth with a serious tone.  "
You really are too slow.  The only other way I know of to prove you're such a great warrior like you claim you are is if you can overpower me.  Let's have a test of strength shall we?"

Nemeth
began to push the spear away from him back towards the Troll Warrior.  Nemeth snapped the tip of the spear off with his hands and jammed it into the throat of the Troll Warrior.  The Troll Warrior panicked and pulled the tip of the spear out of its throat.  Blood began pouring out of the Troll Warrior's throat and it gasped for air.  The wound was too deep and Nemeth watched as the creature collapsed to its demise.  He glanced over at the Troll Warlord and saw that it was still standing in the same position guarding the treasure chest.  Nemeth walked back over to the three Troll Warriors that were laid out from the fall.  Nemeth walked on top of each of the Troll Warrior's chests again.

"Now you three are a special bunch," said Nemeth.  "You saved me from what could have been a fatal fall.  But I also think you may have broken a couple of my ribs.  Two of your friends are dead.  Your leader looks like he's too scared to face me so he just stands by that treasure chest.  What shall I do with you?"

Nemeth drew his sword and clasped it with both hands.  One by one, he severed off the heads of the three remaining Troll Warriors.  Nemeth's boots were now soaked with the blood of the dead Troll Warriors.  Nemeth wielded his shield with his right hand.  Jaida flew close to Nemeth.

"Master, we are running out of time!" exclaimed Jaida.  "There are so many more rooms in the temple.  We need to find a way to get to Terazhul and Vulpes as quickly as possible!"

"You're right," replied Nemeth.  "This temple feels like it doesn't have an end to it.  But I've got a plan that I think you'll love.  Now watch it unfold."

Nemeth turned his attention to the
Troll Warlord and began strolling calmly towards the creature.

"You're not much of a leader now are you?" asked Nemeth.  "You
didn't come to the aid of your underlings and now they're all dead.  You also had ample opportunity to flee but you didn't.  That must mean you're either really stupid or there's something really good in that treasure chest.  Now move aside stupid so I can take that sweet treasure."

The Troll Warlord lunged forward with his spear. 
Nemeth deflected the attack with his shield causing the tip of the spear to break off.  The Troll Warlord tossed the broken spear aside.  Nemeth put his sword and shield away.  Nemeth delivered a two front kicks to the Troll Warlord's stomach causing the Troll Warlord to lean forward.  Nemeth tackled the Troll Warlord to the ground.  Nemeth pressed hard on the left shoulder of the Troll Warlord with his right hand to keep the creature grounded.  Nemeth delivered a series of hammer fists to the Troll Warlord's face with his left hand causing it to be stunned.

"Master, open the treasure chest now!" shouted Jaida.  "Do it whi
le the Troll Warlord is stunned!"

Nemeth
dismounted the Troll Warlord and darted towards the nearby treasure chest.  Nemeth rubbed his hands together with excitement and then opened the treasure chest.  Inside the treasure chest, he saw a broad sword and a new sheath.  He put his old sword, old sheath and his shield into the Infinite Backpack.  He pulled out the broad sword and gripped it tightly in his left hand.  His body emitted a bright orange glow for about 10 seconds.  He began to examine the new sword.  It was as lightweight as his old sword, although slightly longer.  It had the most beautiful design he had ever seen for a sword.  The sword had multiple sockets going up and down the blade and scattered across the handle and guard as well.

"Looks like I've got myself
a brand new sword," said Nemeth pensively.  "I'm going to love testing it out!"

"
I detect that this sword is made from Estrellium!" exclaimed Jaida.  "For some reason though, I am unable to identify the name and the origin of this sword.  I am truly sorry master."

"What are these socke
ts on the sword for?" asked Nemeth.

"You can place various objects in the sockets
," replied Jaida.  "From the shape of the sockets, it looks like they should be filled in with various gemstones."

"Gemstones?" questioned Nemeth. 
"What good would gemstones be in this sword?"

"
Watch out!" exclaimed Jaida.  "The Troll Warlord is regaining its senses!"

"Jaida, I need you to hide!" shouted Nemeth.  "Hide now!"

Jaida disappeared inside of Nemeth's body causing him to glow momentarily.  He grabbed the new sheath out of the treasure chest.  He put his new sheath over his shoulder.  Nemeth rotated his wrist several times trying to get a feel for his new weapon.  He banged the edge of the sword couple of times on the ground.  The Troll Warlord finally arose to its feet after the pummeling that Nemeth gave it.

"Put the swo
rd back into the treasure chest!" commanded the Troll Warlord.  "You have no right to steal that sword or anything else in this temple!"

Nemeth pointed the sword at the Troll Warlord.  He began to inch closer towards the Troll Warlord.  The Troll Warlord
cowardly walked backwards until finally he was backed up against a hedge maze wall.  Nemeth pressed the tip of his new sword against the throat of the Troll Warlord.  The Troll Warlord began to tremble with fear.