Avilien: Tutorial islands

Do as I say

As the assault on Meringue came to Damocles' attention he had already summoned Brit up from her cell. Cuffed by hands and feet, Salamay dragged her before Damocles. He was to use every tool at his disposal. In the worst-case scenario, he would dangle Nebs before Luke and use the little ball of fur as a sacrifice. Damocles couldn't believe it had even come down to this.

Levit and Angel had long since departed, both of them of no use in the ensuing battle and neither willing to deal with Grimmock and Trix. If he didn't know better Damocles would say they were scared stiff. Levit didn't act like the others, the other undertakers that was. Nor did either of the undertakers have their trademark coffins with them. Each undertaker carried one, each coffin filled with a wide arrange of items and weapons.

Salamay and Moto were ready to do battle. They stood on alert, weapons drawn, and awaiting the action to reach the town of Ice. In his hands Damocles had Squeeks. He strangled the very air out of the little blue mouse until Brit cried.

"Please don't hurt him! I'll do anything!" she begged as she grovelled at Damocles' feet.

Hugging the beast's shoes Brit stared at the floor. How much she had cried these past few days were astonishing. She'd been put through the emotional wringer.

"The Grenchitty that won't shut up and won't stop singing the potato song, even in his cell..." Damocles looked behind him to the small cage that contained a joyous Nebs.

Nebs sat up had been singing the potato song for the last two hours. Never had something been able to get under his skin so bad and Damocles couldn't touch the stupid cat. If he so much as hurt a whisker on the little furball then Trix and Rajin would hunt him to the ends of Avilien. As much as Smoot pleaded with his old friend to be quiet, Nebs would not.

"As I was saying, that stupid Grenchitty claims that you are friends and are friends with his master."

"Friends?" scoffed Nebs, loud enough for all to hear. "When my master finds out what you have done to her and her guide. Oh boy. Even I wouldn't want to be you. I've never seen him mad. But tales constantly say that knights are nine feet tall with laser eyes. He must transform when he's angry." Nebs hummed as he remained in deep thought.

"Yes, I know Pebs and Duke. Now please let go of Squeeks." Begged Brit.

"Fine." Damocles threw a passed out Squeeks to Salamay. "Return him to the cellar. As for you my little red-haired Barbie." Damocles grabbed Brit by the chin and pulled her up so that her face looked at him.

"If you want your blue little friend back then all you have to do is defeat that friend of yours. Do that, I'll hand the blue little idiot back and allow you to leave." Damocles smiled.

"You want me to fight Duke?" asked a puzzled Brit. Damocles nodded in response.

"If you don't we will delete him here and now."

"She won't be able to defeat my master," roared Nebs in a fit of laughter.

"And you think your master would strike a friend?" Damocles had a smug grin on his face as he looked back at Nebs. The realisation also hitting Nebs.

"You filthy, slimy, puss ball. How underhanded you are. Are there no limits to how low you can go?" questioned Nebs. He knew it too. Luke wouldn't attack Brit. Even if she went full out.

"Do we have a deal?" Damocles now looked Brit in the face. His expression one of menace."

Brit nodded in response as Damocles grasped her chin harder until it hurt.

"I want to hear you say it!" he roared.

"We... have a deal," she murmured and Damocles let go of her as he threw her backwards.

"Soon as we hear the word that this town is under attack you are to go and fight our intruders. If you fail for any reason, your mouse gets it. Now prepare yourself. You don't have to delete them if that makes you feel better. Just defeat them." Damocles grinned. He had a few aces up his sleeve it seemed and if Brit could deal with the intruders then he wouldn't have to give up on anything or apologise as Levit suggested.