Just One Last Dungeon

By Doug Ward

Grady was a weary old adventurer who thought those days were long gone. He was wrong.

You need to read this epic fantasy novel because it is a great adventure story where an old adventurer tries to rescue a princess and save a town from the clutches of an evil scourge with a ridiculous name. It has many Halloween aspects, so it would make an especially great fall read.

“Just One Last Dungeon is a thrilling fantasy novel in the tradition of Sword of Shannara, Kings of the Wyld, and the Dragonlance Chronicles. If you like classic fantasy, monsters, and a touch of Halloween, then you’ll love this action-packed tale.”

Grady is an old, retired adventurer whose best days are behind him. Living off his accumulated treasure was a great idea, but he had a tendency to overspend. Now, he is forced to live in a run-down apartment near where he started his career. It’s a vicious cycle he would like to break, so when a young upstart at the local tavern challenges him to a contest, Grady reluctantly agrees to take part. This story features many monsters and all of your favorite fantasy races. The book is actually two stories in one. The first part was published in The Forging of the Ring, while the next chapter comes from Tales from the Grimacing Goblin. I loved these characters so much that I thought they deserved to have their tale finished in a book of their own. I think you will love the Dungeons & Dragons feel of this book, along with the distinct Halloween elements. It was formerly published under the title, The Curse of Count Dookula (I know. It’s such a silly name.) This story takes place in my world, Terrene, taking place after The War of the Stone. Although reading those books is not necessary, it would clarify some of the things you are going to read here.

As one reviewer said of Just One Last Dungeon; “Author Doug Ward fills his energetic story with interesting characters and touches of humor.”

Other books by Doug Ward; Lich, is the first in the War of the Stone series. If you like this book, try it. It’s free. The others, in order, are Horde, Demons, and Lurking in the Shadows. They are also available for purchase. Currently, the author is working hard on his next book. Check for updates on his Facebook page.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Doug Ward
• Release date: Apr 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463828878

Doug Ward

Doug Ward currently lives in Western Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Slippery Rock University. He has a BFA is in Fine Art and spends much of his time doing oil paintings, which incorporate mythology and science, and writing.Doug's most recent series is "The War of the Stone." It is a fantasy series that introduces his world and the mythological beings who inhabit it. The first book is called, "Lich." If you like goblins, necromancers, and mayhem in general, this series is for you.Of his first series, The True Story of the Zombie Apocalypse, Doug Ward says, "I like to write about parasitic zombies. They feel (to me) more scientifically grounded than other types. It's also pretty scary how many parasitic creatures are inside of us at this very moment. Some have even bonded with us for so long that they are actually a part of our DNA. Parasites have been known to take over their hosts. A few years ago, my wife called me from a friend's house and said that a mouse kept trying to snuggle with the cat. Actually nuzzling up to the cat's face. I quickly informed her that the mouse was infected by a parasite and that they needed to remove it from the house immediately.The parasite wanted to be eaten by the cat so it could continue its life cycle in the bowels of the unfortunate creature. This flatworm not only controls mice, but it can infect humans as well. "I have blended many scientific ideas into Parasite, which is a four book series.Saving Jebediah is a fun piece of fan fiction I wrote for a contest Mark Tufo was having. It should be read as a prequel because the characters in Saving Jebediah turn up in the 4 book series."If you want to get in touch, you can find him at https://wardswoods.wixsite.com/dougward, tweet him @authordougward, and check out his fan page at https://www.facebook.com/wardswoods/.

Book preview

Just One Last Dungeon

by Doug Ward

Edited by J.D. Reed

Copyright 2021 Doug Ward

Introduction

Grady is an old, retired adventurer whose best days are behind him. Living off his accumulated treasure was a great idea, but he had a tendency to overspend. Now, he is forced to live in a run-down apartment near where he started his career. It is a vicious cycle he would like to break, so when a young upstart at the local tavern challenges him to a contest, Grady reluctantly agrees to participate.

This story features many monsters and all of your favorite fantasy races. The book is actually three stories in one. The first part was published in The Forging of the Ring, while the next chapter comes from Tales from the Grimacing Goblin. I loved these characters so much that I thought they deserved to have their tale finished in a book of their own.

I think you will love the Dungeons & Dragons feel of this book, along with the distinct Halloween elements. It was formerly published under the title, The Curse of Count Dookula. (I know. It’s such a silly name.)

This story takes place in my world, Terrene, and the events happen soon after The War of the Stone. Although reading those books is not necessary, it would clarify some of the things you are going to read here.

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Scott Lee, who is the guy I always bounce ideas off of, and a big, special thanks to my awesome editor, J.D. Reed, without whom, I wouldn’t have a readable sentence in the book. He also wrote a good part of the ending.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Bully

Chapter 2 I’ll Choose Wisdom Every Time

Chapter 3 That’s It

Chapter 4 The True Champion

Chapter 5 A Few Days Later

Chapter 6 What a Quaint Little Town

Chapter 7 What Was That?

Chapter 8 A Spooky, Old Graveyard

Chapter 9 Enter Count Dookula

Chapter 10 After the Butt Kicking

Chapter 11 Not the Best Laid Plan

Chapter 12 In Need of a Friend

Chapter 13 Finally, a Cleric

Chapter 14 Penelope

Chapter 15 Who Got the Girl

Chapter 16 Goodbye, Emmy

Chapter 17 The Allies Set Off

Chapter 18 Wedding Bells

Chapter 19 The Manor

Chapter 20 Ambushed

Chapter 21 Final fight

Chapter 22 Victory at a Price

Chapter 23 Tough Choices

Chapter 1

The Bully

Grady awoke to the sound of an empty bottle dropping to the wooden floor of his room. With a start, the old adventurer shot up into a seated position. His highly trained instincts seemed ready for battle through muscle memory alone, but his ale-addled mind reeled from the sudden start.

Another day, he sighed, dragging a hand through his unruly mop of greasy, gray locks.

After throwing back his tattered blanket, Grady swung his legs over the side of the bed. His left foot kicked the bottle that had recently slipped from his fingers and awakened him, causing it to roll across the floor.

The grizzled warrior cursed the sound as he rose and stretched. Grady made his way to a small stand across the room that held a pitcher, a bowl, and a dirty towel. The antique stand wobbled as he picked up the pitcher, but the container felt far too light. Peering inside, he remembered draining the wash water to quench his alcohol-induced thirst.

Cursing his luck, the battle-worn explorer rubbed his stubble-covered chin and examined his reflection in the mirror. Although the warrior’s vision wasn’t good for close-up things, he didn’t need to squint to see the wrinkles and scars that crisscrossed his once fair face.

Grady remembered how he had taunted the older adventurers when he was young, the way he rode them hard about being has-beens. He had been so horrible to those poor fellows. Now, in hindsight, Grady apologized for his brash and rude ways.

Unable to continue looking at himself any longer, he turned and made himself ready for the day. He had sweated through the clothes he had fallen asleep in, so he replaced them with the cleanest pair of smallclothes he had and stepped into his other pair of trousers. Lastly, he slipped a sleeveless tunic over his head as he dropped into a chair to pull on his only pair of boots. As he pulled the high, soft leather uppers, the stitching came apart at the seams.

Grady may have been somewhat sloppy, but, being a trained fortune hunter, he knew the importance of keeping up with his gear. If he couldn’t afford to replace the boots, he would certainly mend them. So, belly growling, the warrior took out a needle and thread and began to reinforce the seam.

Squinting hard, he was able to make out the hole in the needle and managed to insert some odd thread he had kept in a drawer. Lacking a thimble, Grady used a random scrap of leather to protect his finger as he pushed the needle through the leather. It was just another practical thing he had picked up on some quest or another.

As he was already working on one boot, he inspected the other one and wound up mending two more areas that seemed to be getting worn. The sole of his left boot was a bit loose, as well, but that repair would require a cobbler. He had little coin for that, so Grady would have to wait for better times before he permanently fix the slightly wobbling footwear.

After pulling on the newly mended footwear, the explorer walked about in his small room for a moment, testing his handiwork.

As he moved about, the grizzled man felt the ghosts of old injuries, wounds he’d received on his various expeditions, or while he sold his sword to various causes. As Grady’s body warmed up, however, the specters of the past subsided to a dull ache, which was overshadowed by the aftereffects of the alcohol and his empty belly.

Snatching up his coin purse, the retired adventurer left his room and proceeded to a set of stairs on the outside of the building. These led to an alley behind several taverns. Refuse from the ever-present garbage pile made it a bit hard to breathe, but this place was the cheapest he found to fit his diminishing savings.

Grady had retired at 37 years old. He amassed a sizable amount of treasure and decided that his battered body had endured enough punishment, but without a mind for budgeting his savings, the coin he had planned to retire on was nearly gone. He spent so lavishly after ending his career that he went through the bulk of his assets before he realized it. Now, he was stuck living the life of a pauper, selling off almost everything of value he once possessed. The only belongings that Grady had left were his adventuring gear, armor, sword, pack, and some other mundane adventuring supplies. The wondrous magical items he once possessed had been sold so he could eat and sleep with a roof over his head. Even his fine sword and armor were traded for some coin and cheaper replacements.

Once he stepped off of the last tread, he strode down the worn cobblestone alleyway to his favorite tavern for some breakfast. As he neared the rear entrance, something sparkled near the far wall. What would have sparked interest in the old scavenger was overridden by his hunger and lack of energy. Ignoring what he dismissed as a piece of glass, Grady continued forward to a rustic-looking door. A wooden sign hanging precariously overhead marked the establishment as the Grimacing Goblin Inn. The door hinges squealed in protest as he pulled the handle outward, exposing a semi-dark interior illuminated by several sputtering lanterns. If it wasn’t for the rank smell of sweat and sour ale, the scent of the rancid oil being burned in the lanterns would have turned a normal man’s stomach, but Grady was accustomed to the foul aromas of his surroundings.

Familiar silhouettes were scattered about the pub, gathered at low tables as well as peppered about the bar. His favorite stool at the far end of the bar was available. He preferred that seat because he liked having his back against the wall and it was also out of the way. Sitting in the middle of a place like this was just asking for trouble. In the distant corner, he might hide in the back of the crowd.

Chase, the middle-aged barmaid, waddled over to him and told him what was ready in the kitchen. Grady slid her some coppers, with an extra for her troubles. The woman smiled at the man, remembering him for the adventurer he was in his youth.

When Grady was younger, he used to frequent this very tavern. Chase thought he was handsome and gallant, but a bit brash. He acted like he owned the place, but as his fame grew, he came in less and less. It wasn’t until he became down on his luck that the rugged adventurer returned to her and his old haunt.

As he waited for his meal, Grady scanned the crowd. His eyes, now accustomed to the low light, made out all the familiar faces. Most of those gathered here were worn, old warriors like him; too long in the tooth for raiding a dragon’s lair, but too alive to live this boring existence they now endured. Youth is wasted on the young, someone once said, and Grady could attest to those words.

The door flew open with a clatter and there, framed in the bright daylight, was the huge warrior, Thun. At the sight of the menacing young adventurer, the occupants of the Grimacing Goblin fell silent. Chase swore under her breath as most of the patrons left the bar and headed for the more shadowy tables on the common room’s perimeter.

Thun, dressed in gleaming armor, swept boldly into the room, striding regally toward the bar. Two other fellows, who were also armed and only slightly less menacing than their leader, followed him.

The huge man walked up to a thin, balding man who remained at the bar. The old soul had ignored the commotion and was busy eating his porridge with a wooden spoon. Thun strode right up beside the fellow and soundly smacked the man on the back, causing him to spit his mouthful of food onto the counter where he ate.

If it isn’t my ol’ friend, Nester, the swarthy, young adventurer announced with a sly, self-satisfied smile.

As the old codger recovered from the unexpected blow, Grady dropped his hand to where his sword hilt usually resided. Cursing himself for leaving his weapon in his room, he balled his fist and returned it to the counter.

You’re in my seat, Thun growled at the waif-thin elder.

Nester stammered an apology as he made to slide down a stool, his shaking hands leaving a trail of spilled porridge in their wake.

That’s my seat! another of the brutes exclaimed after the man had settled in once again.

As Chase set a bowl in front of him, Grady pushed his hair back from his eyes. Leave him alone! he warned in a low voice while staring intently at the bullies.

Thun’s face soured as he looked at the figure cloaked in shadows that had challenged his fun. Filled with angry purpose, the hulking man stormed up to the relic of a fighter. Looming over Grady, Thun announced through gritted teeth, So, you want to be a hero. Who do you think you are, raggedy man?

Grady remained seated, unflinching under the other’s glare. As an adventurer, he had faced much greater foes than this young upstart. After battling horrors in the bowels of tombs, Grady held little fear, especially for a simple human.

Too scared to speak? Thun goaded.

His name is Grady, a voice from a nearby table spoke up. The bard who played here last night sang two ballads about him. You were here, Thun. Don’t you remember them?

The towering warrior looked Grady up and down, taking in his bedraggled appearance. So, you’re Grady, he purred while grinning wickedly. I always wanted to kill a legend.

As Thun drew his blade, Grady stood and reflexively reached for his absent sword, but before anything more could happen, the room was filled with the sound of drawn steel. An assortment of swords, daggers, and other weapons suddenly menaced the bully, causing him to pause.

The brute held the blade’s hilt in a white-knuckled grip as he weighed his options. Reluctantly, Thun decided that this fight wasn’t worth the trouble and slowly lowered his blade. His grip loosened, but his hands still shook with rage as he slid the blade back into its sheath. At once, the occupants of the Grimacing Goblin melted back into the shadows and returned their weapons to wherever they had been kept.

You don’t look like a legend, Thun quipped. I’ll bet you were never half the adventurer I am.

Sure. Whatever you want to believe, Grady agreed in mock sincerity.

Thun’s face