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    Tournament of Death 3: The Deluvian Temple
    Tournament of Death 3: The Deluvian Temple
    Tournament of Death 3: The Deluvian Temple
    Ebook295 pages3 hours

    Tournament of Death 3: The Deluvian Temple

    By Stephen D. Sullivan

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    About this ebook

    Again, the Wizard-Prince Amontet has summoned the best and bravest from across the World-Sea to compete in his fiendish challenge. Contestants include undersea warriors, ditzy sorceresses, wacky dwarves, scheming cat-people, doomed jenrats, grim drow, lethal samurai girls, and victims galore. Those who finish the final quest will gain rewards beyond measure ... But first they must survive the perils of the Osiran Pyramid and the latest Tournament of Death.

    Renowned for his fast-paced imaginative tales, Stephen D. Sullivan is the award-winning author of dozens of books and stories, including trilogies for Legend of the Five Rings, Spider Riders, and Dragonlance.

    Praise for the Tournament of Death Series:

    “Sullivan has a way with words, and a way of drawing you into worlds that are totally unlike any you've ever read about. Rollicking adventures sure to please the fantasy reader.” – Christine Verstraete, author of Girl-Z: My LIfe as a Teenage Zombie

    “This is pure Sullivan, which means pure fun. You want sword & sorcery, martial arts, Lovecraftian horrors, heroic B-movie monsters, a gore-drenched version of The Amazing Race, and still more, all in a single package? Yes, you do!” — David Annandale, author of The Damnation of Pythos

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherStephen D. Sullivan
    Release dateAug 22, 2015
    ISBN9781310036330
    Tournament of Death 3: The Deluvian Temple
    Author

    Stephen D. Sullivan

    Stephen D. Sullivan has written more than 50 books across many genres: fantasy, SF, horror, detective, movie adaptations, and more. Readers the world over enjoy his fast-moving prose style and hard-hitting action sequences. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the 2016 Scribe Award for his horror-comedy novel, Manos: The Hands of Fate.Not sure where to start? Try these:NEW! Manos: Talons of FateBEST SELLER: Manos: The Hands of Fate (2016 Scribe Award Winner)HORROR & MONSTERS: Daikaiju AttackFANTASY: Tournament of Death novelsSCIENCE FICTION: Heart of Steam & RustADULT: Elf Erotica (Elf Princess on Mars)OVERVIEW: Martian Knights & Other TalesThere are plenty of others to choose from, too. (Including some books from other authors published by Steve's Company, Walkabout Publishing.)Browse! Buy! Enjoy!

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      Book preview

      Tournament of Death 3 - Stephen D. Sullivan

      Death Lurks Just Beneath the Surface!

      Orkina sensed the sands shifting moments before the gigantic scorpions rose from the beach and attacked. Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to shout a warning, and not all of her people were so well prepared.

      The creatures were as large as a two-pony cart, and their black armor looked like dwarf plate mail.

      Zam was impaled on a barbed, poisonous tail before he even had time to cry out. He thrashed around for a few moments though, and his shortsword even took a chunk out of the scorpion’s right claw.

      My people fight for our cause even after they are dead, Orkina thought. I will not fail them.

      The scorpion slashed its enormous claws into Zam’s corpse, intent on dismembering him.

      Orkina raced forward and split the scorpion’s head with her pole ax—in Zam’s honor.

      The scorpion’s body fell dead to the sand, and Zam’s with it. His eyes seemed to stare at Orkina … and was that a smile on his bloodied lips?

      An arrow whizzed past her right ear and lodged itself in the eye of another scorpion charging toward her, though the blow did not stop the beast. Two of the monsters remained, and only six jenrats now.

      The charging scorpion had batted two of Orkina’s fellows aside; already, they were scrambling to their feet, but they would not catch the creature before it reached her.

      Orkina’s remaining three compatriots battled the final enormous arachnid. She felt glad that Tuck, their best archer, had taken a moment from his own melee to fire the shot that alerted her to the new danger.

      Jenrat! she cried, charging forward to meet the enemy head on.

      The scorpion stabbed with its deadly tail, but Orkina sliced off the stinger with one swing of her ax.

      The creature screeched and slashed at her with its claws.

      Orkina parried the left claw, but the right one knocked her off balance, and she sprawled to the sand on her backside.

      The scorpion lunged in for the kill…

      The Tournament Is Back!

      Only the Strongest Will Survive!

      Other Works by

      Stephen D. Sullivan

      Novels & Collections

      Daikaiju Attack (A Giant Monster novel)

      Tournament of Death: The Empyrean Keep

      Tournament of Death 2: The Deluvian Temple

      The Crimson Collection

      Martian Knights & Other Tales

      Luck o’ the Irish

      Zombies, Werewolves, & Unicorns

      Dragonlance

      The Dragon Isles

      The Dying Kingdom

      Warrior’s Heart (Catriona trilogy)

      Warrior’s Blood (Catriona trilogy)

      Warrior’s Bones (Catriona trilogy)

      Legend of the Five Rings

      The Scorpion

      The Phoenix

      The Lion

      Spider Riders

      The Shards of the Oracle

      Quest of the Earthen

      Reign of the Soul Eater

      And more…

      E-Books & Stories

      Heart of Steam & Rust (steampunk)

      Monster Shark

      Zombie Shark

      Crimson & Dragons (Crimson)

      Crash of the Titans (Crimson)

      Thor Loser (Crimson)

      Snowraven

      Ghosts of 9/11

      Elf Princess on Mars (Elf Erotica)

      And more…

      TOURNAMENT OF DEATH 3

      ~ The Osiran Pyramid ~

      Stephen D. Sullivan

      • Walkabout Publishing •

      Smashwords Edition.

      Thanks for buying this book! By making this purchase you’re helping to support me, Steve Sullivan, not some faceless publishing conglomerate. The more of my stories you buy, the easier it is for me to create more cool stuff for you and your friends to read. Or, to put it in language a lawyer might understand…

      This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please buy an additional copy for each person you want to share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not buy it (or it was not bought for your personal use), then please go to the vendor of your choice and buy your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author!

      *

      Walkabout Publishing

      S.D.Studios

      P.O.Box 151

      Kansasville, WI 53139

      www.walkaboutpublishing.com

      © 2014 Stephen D. Sullivan

      All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, scanning, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of the author.

      Special thanks to all my friends, fans, and online supporters, and the many backers of the Tournament of Death series (including those not listed in the Banzuke). And, as always, my deepest gratitude to my wife, Kifflie Scott, for not only putting up with this madness every couple of years, but also proofing and helping out wherever possible. Just one more time to the finish line after this one, my love!

      Cover art & design © 2014 Stephen D. Sullivan.

      Get a free wallpaper of many of my stories at www.stephendsullivan.com –where you can find out more about me, as well. Thanks!

      * * *

      TOURNAMENT OF DEATH 3 BANZUKE

      (List of Heroes)

      TEAM PLAYER

      Kevin VanHook's friend Peter

      NEW HEROES

      Ross Bishop

      Steve Rouse

      GOLD TICKET

      David Annandale

      David Lars Chamberlain

      Ben Seeley

      SILVER TICKET

      Karen S. Conlin

      M.P.

      qBert of Epsilon Gruis I

      BRONZE TICKET

      Rod Barnett

      Shawn Conlin

      Dezmondel

      Duncan Dog

      His Most Benevolent Majesty Lucion Gygax

      Wendy Lord

      Paul Minturn

      James Moss

      And the many other Attendees, Bystanders, and Friends of the Tournament!

      To Makoto Nagano and Ayako Miyake

      &

      All the Competitors on Sasuke and Kunoichi.

      (Ninja Warrior)

      CONTENTS

      Preface

      Prologues

      Chapter 1 – Shadows of Change

      Chapter 2 – The Call

      Chapter 3 – Preliminary Moves

      Chapter 4 – Opening Gambits

      Chapter 5 – Stage One: Start Fast, Fail First

      Chapter 6 – Stage One: Clear Objectives

      Chapter 7 – Stage One: Skilled Survival

      Chapter 8 – Stage Two: Initial Distractions

      Chapter 9 – Stage Two: Conflicts

      Chapter 10 – Stage Two: Friend or Foe

      Chapter 11 – Stage Two: Stoned, Roced, and Rolled

      Chapter 12 – Stage Three: Partings

      Chapter 13 – Stage Three: Quick & the Dead

      Chapter 14 – Stage Three: The Lost Kingdom

      Chapter 15 – Stage Three: The Dead & the Damned

      Chapter 16 – Just Rewards

      Epilogues

      Author’s Notes

      About the Story

      About the Author

      * * *

      TOURNAMENT OF DEATH 3

      The Osiran Pyramid

      STEPHEN D. SULLIVAN

      Preface About the Language

      This story is written for a modern audience in contemporary language. While I have tried to avoid outright anachronisms (firing bows, etc.), I have endeavored to use the words that best convey the feelings and personalities of my characters. This means that sometimes they may use slang or other modes of speaking to which many fantasy readers are unaccustomed.

      If this seems strange to you, please remember that Shakespeare and Tolkien were not writing in archaic forms of English when they penned their masterpieces—they were merely using their own contemporary language to communicate with their modern audiences.

      That’s what I’m doing, too.

      If, however, you still find my use of language odd for a fantasy tale, I present you with this Author’s Preface:

      In presenting this tale to you, I have attempted to accurately translate the story from the original languages of the Blue Kingdoms into our modern idiom.

      (Because who really wants to read thee and thou all the time, anyway?)

      —Steve Sullivan, 2014

      PROLOGUES

      The Principality of the EGG

      ERISA – First Tournament Maximus Champion

      Uldred swung hard, aiming his broadsword at the samurai girl’s head. Meichiko stepped back, parried with her left-hand katana, and counterattacked with her right. Uldred leaned backward, and the razor-sharp blade passed within inches of his leather chestplate.

      He dropped to the floor and swept with his left leg, looking to take Meichiko’s knees out from under her.

      She hopped over the sweep, but that put her in the perfect position for his uppercut.

      The blow caught the girl under the chin, but she leaned with it, fell backward, landed on her hands, and sprang into a backflip—somehow still managing to hold onto her twin swords—before landing lightly on the balls of her feet.

      Uldred charged, stabbing high and then swinging low.

      She parried the stab with her left sword, countered the swing with her right, and then dropped, just as he had done.

      Meichiko’s sweep caught her foe in the ankles—the big man had lost a step over the last few years and wasn’t fast enough to get out of the way. He tumbled backward, cursing, and landed flat on his ass.

      Meichiko pounced, discarding her left sword and coming down with both hands clenched tight around the right. She aimed at the middle of Uldred’s skull.

      Erisa gasped.

      The blade stopped a finger’s width from Uldred’s forehead.

      Well … Shit! the big man said.

      A tiny smile tugged at the corners of Meichiko’s lips.

      Erisa laughed and applauded. She rose from one of the dojo’s twin gilded chairs—thrones the students called them—and walked across the training room’s smooth wooden floor.

      You gonna let me up? Uldred asked the girl. Or haven’t you humiliated me enough yet?

      Meichiko quickly sheathed her sword and bowed. "It was never my intention to humiliate you, sensei. I would never…"

      He knows, Erisa said. He’s just teasing.

      Uldred rose, brushing dust off of his pants. Sure, he said. Just like Mei was teasing about splitting my skull. He frowned at the grime on his hands. Remind me to have the trainees work harder cleaning this floor.

      I was one of those trainees, once, Meichiko remarked, retrieving and sheathing her second sword.

      Erisa hugged her, noticing that, even after all these years, Mei still seemed a bit uncomfortable with the embrace. "Our first student, Erisa said. And still our favorite. You were through our door as soon as we had the sign up—before anyone even knew we were looking for students."

      As they parted, Erisa noticed the girl’s face redden slightly. "I had nowhere else to go, sensei," Mei admitted.

      Which is why sleeping on the floor of a dojo run by two broken-down Midknights seemed like a good idea, Uldred said jovially.

      "Oh, no, it was wonderful, Mei assured him. I … You both treated me with such respect. Even though I was no one—a street rat."

      "That’s ’cause no one ever treated us with much respect," Uldred replied.

      Not until I won the tournament, Erisa said, and for a moment her mind slipped back to those terrible days, six years ago. She’d been so young then. Young and foolish enough to believe that a famous wizard could grant her and Uldred’s hearts’ desires. They’d been lucky to escape the tournament with their lives … twice.

      She shuddered. Even pain free and with their money troubles behind them, some wounds still felt fresh.

      Never again, she thought. Even if they have another Tournament Maximus, we’re not going back. She hoped that no one would ever have to face such games again.

      What were you, eight when you first found us? Uldred asked. Ten?

      "Twelve, sensei, Mei replied. Or perhaps thirteen. Any record of my birth was lost along with my parents."

      Uldred rubbed his close-cropped hair. Sorry. I forgot. It’s been a while since you dropped by. Anyway, you looked younger when we started trading you lessons for chores.

      Erisa slugged him in the shoulder. Anybody looks younger than we do, comparatively, she said. Here we are, the old married couple, settled down with a thriving warrior-training school. Who’d have guessed this is where we’d end up when we were fighting in the arena?

      Or when we were starving hard-luck thieves, Uldred agreed.

      I’m sorry I missed the wedding, Meichiko put in, looking guilty.

      Erisa waved away her concern. It was just a small affair—

      We didn’t want those tournament hangers-on barging in, Uldred said.

      —But we were sorry you couldn’t make it, Erisa finished. We did try to get word to you.

      A far-off look came over Meichiko’s dark eyes. "I was half the World-Sea away, studying iajutsu, the Dai Nippon art of fast-draw swordsmanship."

      And how did you do? Uldred asked.

      The girl unsheathed her katana so quickly that Erisa barely saw it move before the point came to rest just below Uldred’s chin.

      Fairly well, Mei replied with a charming half-smile.

      Shee-it, said Uldred.

      If you’re done pretending to cut my husband’s throat, Erisa said, why don’t we show you around?

      Uldred gently pushed the blade away from his neck. We’ve fixed a few things up since you were here last.

      Mei bowed slightly. I would be honored.

      Erisa led the way upstairs, narrating as they entered the master bedroom. We’ve added a deep-tub—Dai Nippon style—in our bathroom, she said. It adjoins the rooftop terrace. The bath’s screened off now, but when spring finally gets here, we can open it up and enjoy the view while soaking.

      You’re welcome to use it during your stay, Uldred added. It really takes the ache out after a long day of training. I mean … just so long as Erisa and I aren’t … you know … using it.

      Mei blushed slightly and turned away. Her eyes lit upon a piece of furniture nestled in one corner of the bedroom.

      Oh, she said, are you…?

      Erisa sighed and shook her head, her eyes lingering on the crib, as well.

      We’ve been trying for more than a year, but… Uldred shrugged.

      I keep meaning to take that down, Erisa said. She walked to the cradle and rocked it gently. The wood was smooth and cool under her hand. A feeling of emptiness twisted in her belly.

      Damn it!

      We consulted a midwife-priestess a month ago, she continued. She says I can’t have kids—an unexpected bonus from our time in the arena.

      Mei looked puzzled. But I thought that Amontet had cured all your wounds at the end of the last Tournament Maximus.

      All the effects from the injuries Uldred and I received in his damnable tournament, Erisa said. Sadness welled up inside her, and she turned and gazed out the bedroom’s broad windows. Still perched at the trailing edge of winter, the city looked as barren as she felt. "But not from the time before that. I guess some old wounds never really heal."

      The ‘gift’ that keeps on grieving, Uldred observed.

      I’m sorry, Mei told them, laying a comforting hand on Erisa’s shoulder. Perhaps there will be another tournament—

      Uldred cut her off. If there is, we won’t be going. We were lucky to escape with our lives last time.

      Both times, Erisa added.

      We’re happy with what we’ve got, Uldred said. Our lives are good.

      Erisa forced a smile. Besides, she said, we can always adopt.

      Meichiko smiled, too, though hers didn’t seem any more genuine than Erisa’s. She gazed wistfully at the empty crib in the corner and nodded—once.

      The Palace at Tet-Zhozer

      AMONTET – The Wizard-Prince

      Amontet sat up in bed. The royal bedchamber lay silent and dark, its windows closed and shuttered against the wintery chill still lingering over his desert nation.

      What had disturbed his sleep?

      Was it the nightmares again? If so, he didn’t remember any.

      He looked at the woman lying in bed beside him, his preternaturally keen eyes picking out every imperfection, every scale in her skin. To most, Asptiri would seem perfect … more than perfect, but the Wizard-Prince saw every flaw in her—just as he saw every shortcoming in this bleak and moribund world.

      To him, she was just another pawn, another plaything, though—since she was his bodyguard and his voice to the masses—more valued than most.

      And she did satisfy certain … desires, needs that not even The Great could suppress entirely.

      His gaze lingered over her body, deficient as it was, from her crown of black hair to her denuded pubis. If women in this world were lovely, Asptiri was a paragon among them. And her strength … Amontet found that just as exciting to possess as her body. Despite their pre-sleep dalliance, the ardors of the flesh still burned within him.

      Much easier to relieve his tensions with this warrior-thrall than with an endless string of disposable serving girls. Yes, her life was his, just as assuredly as were the lives of the legions who slaved for him, but her devotion extended far beyond that of any menial. Asptiri belonged to him, body and soul. She would remain his until he was finished with this somatic tedium … until his plans came to fruition.

      His plans!

      Suddenly, the wizard-prince knew what had disturbed his rest.

      He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and placed his painted toes on the cold, stone-tiled floor.

      Amontet moved swiftly from the bedchamber to his adjoining trophy room, his body tingling, all his senses alive,

      Pausing in the doorway, he smiled and felt the power of his magic swelling within him.

      In the center of the room stood a headless, semi-transparent specter: the shade of his former bodyguard, Seth. The half-elf swordsman had perished during the assault on the Empyrean Keep.

      The loss had been worth it, though, because Seth’s sacrifice had gained Amontet the priceless diamond held within the otherworldly citadel—the first of the Wizard-Prince’s ultimate prizes. The first thing that he needed for…

      But no sense dwelling on that now.

      Seth’s headless specter had apparently not forgiven Amontet for its death; it returned to haunt its former master again, and its reappearance could mean only one thing:

      Shumakai has returned!

      The words escaped Amontet’s lips as barely a whisper, but giving voice to them at all thrilled him to the center of his being.

      This was so much more than fleshy satisfaction!

      Runes etched in the floor on either side of Seth’s shadowy figure glowed. They were protective sigils set above Amontet’s most treasured possessions: the Empyrean Diamond and the Deluvian Pearl. Both gems rested safely within the foundation of his chambers … waiting.

      The reappearance of Shumakai, the Lost Isle, meant that soon a third stone would join his collection.

      Amontet smiled, causing unaccustomed, almost-painful creases in the skin of his dusky face.

      He returned to his bedroom and shook Asptiri by the shoulder.

      Rouse yourself, he told his naked bodyguard. And fetch The Sage from my dungeons. I need his advice once again. The time has come for a new tournament.

      CHAPTER 1

      SHADOWS OF CHANGE

      Colossa

      ROGINA – Tournament Organizer

      Rogi… a familiar voice said. Rogina… Wake up.

      Rogina Tahl mumbled a refusal and kept her eyes shut. The bed seemed so warm, and her lover’s caress so soft.

      A gentle hand pushed Rogi’s hair back from her forehead and stroked her face.

      "Rogi, we have a job…"

      …Finished the last job, Rogi muttered. We’re taking some time off, remember? She’d grown tired of the months of organizing events for the arenas of Colossa. They’d been at it nearly nonstop since…

      "It’s another tournament. The Wizard-Prince has sent an envoy. His bodyguard is in the receiving room."

      Shit! Rogi said, opening her eyes and sitting up. Asptiri is here? This was a commission they could not refuse.

      Ilsa Gorvald smiled at her and kissed her on the lips. There’s my girl, she said affectionately. I knew you’d come around.

      Rogi got out of their bed and pulled on a robe. Ilsa stood naked before her, blonde, beautiful, and perfect—both muscular and full bosomed; the woman had no body modesty, and how could anyone blame her?

      "Did you greet her like that?" Rogi asked.

      Why not? Ilsa replied. It’s not like I’ve got anything she’s never seen before. She grinned wolfishly. Except for you.

      Rogi kissed her on the cheek. You’re sweet. Rogi had never been with a woman until the two of them became lovers, and she wasn’t entirely sure how it had happened. They had spent a lot of time working together after Max’s breakdown, and things just…

      An awful thought occurred to her.

      "Gods save us! We’re

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