Chapter 065:

Two days in Nonbu'rn passed in relative peace. Anton didn't have that much to do, other than heal the wounded and get the prisoners ready to be sent back. Everyone that could be saved was, though some did have issue with him healing them without being a member of the Holy Church. When their wounds healed, and those at the edge of death were brought back, the complaints stopped. It wasn't that surprising. Still, after everyone had been healed from death it left him with quite a bit of free time to pursue the new relationship between the three of them. While that was extraordinarily fun, and somewhat exhausting, for all of them, there were a few things extra that he needed to do before they left Nonbu'rn.

He needed some time alone to talk with the Clansmen leader, Ivano. With Alfred controlling Nonbu'rn, for the time being, that was not hard. Verona and Kal still had a few things to talk about regarding this new relationship, ones that seemingly didn'twarrant his presence. He wasn't sure if it was just Verona wanting some alone time with Kal. Not that he minded. Everything seemed to be very strange for him in this world.

There was also the Orc, Snakha, that seemed to be the highest ranking Orc left. However Anton did not trust him enough yet. His questioning about Lazgar and the remnants of the Black Fist Clan might reveal to him that they are still alive. Then the last remnants of a seemingly strong and respected clan could be gone for good. Anton made a mental note to find and visit the Red Spines as soon as he was able.

Anton waited for the Clansmen chief in a well furnished room, spending his time nibbling on the food provided. Ivano was still a prisoner and couldn't just wander about.

Someone knocked on the door and a Qaiviel soldier peered through.

“Grand Mage Anton. We have the prisoners here to speak with you.”

“Prisoners?”

“Yes my lord. Ivano said he wouldn't meet you without her.”

“Her? Oh, right. The woman we found in the Governor's study, Brenna. Send them in.”

The soldier opened the door fully and showed a giant of a man and woman in. Their chain mail armour and furs had been removed, replaced with a tight set of peasant clothes. They seemed more comfortable in those, but looked more nervous and vulnerable.

“I'm surprised to see you again.” Ivano grumbled, rubbing his arms. Some of the wounds he had suffered had yet to completely heal, even with his magical healing. There might have been something odd with Kal's new blade.

“Well. There are a few things that I would like to talk about.” Anton said as he stood up. “We were interrupted by the Blue Fire-storm chapter before we could finish. And...”

He looked around. “There's a bit more privacy here.”

“Where are your other friends?”

“Relaxing.” Anton said, knowing that was a version of the truth.

“I see...” Ivano looked at Brenna. Both shrugged as Anton waved them to their seats.

“Thank you.” Anton said to the soldiers. “We'll be fine on our own.”

One opened his mouth to object but held it shut. They knew who he was. When the door clicked shut Anton relaxed into the chair.

“You aren't afraid of being left alone with two Clansmen?” Brenna asked.

She had been found in the former Governor's study, face down in a puddle of blood, barely alive. Anton had healed her so she would live but left several wicked scars on the side of her face. The previous day, during his healing rounds, he had offered to heal it better but she had been adamant to leave it. Something about reminding her how badly things had gone in Qaiviel. Anton wasn't go to push that any further.

“No.” Anton replied. Brenna seemed to relax. “We were talking about what you would do if you were put in charge of the Deweth Clans.”

Ivano shuffled uncomfortably. He reached for and poured themselves some wine.

“So, what would you do?” Anton asked again.

Ivano rubbed his bearded chin while he looked down at the red liquid. Brenna was not so hesitant, and sculled the entire contents. She kept quiet, she had not been there when they were originally talking. Now she was just drinking more and more wine.

“If...If something like that were to happen, I would try and change the Deweth Clans away from the path of war. One more towards peace and trade. Where we don't loose thirty thousand Clansmen and Orcs for basically nothing. It's stupid.”

Anton tried his best to study the man. He could read anything on his face.

“I think that would be the best for everyone.”

They both frowned at him.

“Who are you?” Brenna asked. “Really?”

He could just be saying what he thinks I want to hear. But dancing around the issue like this might never get anywhere. Someone needs to take the first step. And it should definitely be the guy that has the advantages.

“That...That is a little hard to explain.” Anton began. “Suffice it to say that I have been sent here by the Old Gods to fight an invasion of Demons.”

Both looked blankly at him.

Anton chuckled. “That was sort of the same reaction when I told others that. I wouldn't believe it unless I had been through it myself.”

“You worship the Old Gods?” Brenna asked. “I didn't think that Qaiviel would let you.”

“I'm not from Qaiviel. But, you know of them?”

Both nodded. “The Old Gods still reign in the Clans. The Church of the Holy Father and the Church of the Holy Mother have no sway there. Especially when they do nothing for their worshipers.”

Brenna frowned. “Wait.” she placed a bandaged hand on Ivano's knee, surprising Ivano and Anton. “You said Gods. More than one of them.”

“Yes?”

“That's impossible.” They both said in unison.

“A person cannot withstand more than one blessing of a god.” Brenna continued. “It would tear your body apart.”

Ivano raised a brow at her.

“My brother's a priest of Cairn, the God of Earth.”

“But he's also-”

“Yep."

Whatever they were talking about he didn't know, and they weren't going to divulge it. Her words filled him with another sense of creeping dread; that someone like him shouldn't exist in this world.

Nithroel called me an abomination. That must be what she meant. But, how am I alive in the first place? I doubt it's because I'm from another world.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

His eyes were drawn to the crystal embedded in his hand.

This...Thing might be the only reason that I'm alive. Might be able to get an answer.

Anton raised his hand with the glyphs. Both frowned deeply.

“Stratos, Esperit...and Tethra?” Brenna said with a deep frown. “I haven't seen any worshippers of Tethra since I was a little girl.”

“Were they killed?”

“No.” she shook her head, a deep frown on her face. “Their powers stopped working. They couldn't heal or help anyone, so they just sort of fell apart.”

“That's a shame. Tethra was a deaths door when I met her.”

“You've met a god?” Ivano asked incredulously.

“Five gods, actually. One of them was not friendly.”

“How?” Brenna asked, utterly stunned and shocked. “How can you use all their powers as well?” She touched the cherry red scar running down her face. “You were the fire and lightning mage that followed us?”

“Yes. I think this has something to do with it.”

He drew their attention to his other hand. Both looked at the crystal but looked completely blank.

“What is it?”

“No idea, but I think that it's keeping me from being torn apart by these three glyphs. If what you say is true.”

“My brother would know more about the Old Gods than me.” Brenna said. “He's spent most of his life dedicated to them. He would know more.”

“More than enough reason to head to the Deweth Clans.” Anton said.

“I wouldn't recommend that.” Ivano said. “The Clansmen would kill you if they saw you coming from Qaiviel. Even if you were heading there peacefully.”

That put a dampen on Anton's spirit.

“Can anyone get into there without being killed?”

“Only if you were to head through Seocuria, and as part of a merchant group.” Ivano explained, a strange look of guilt on his face. “They're the only ones we're not really at war with.”

“They provide you with slaves?” Anton asked calmly.

Ivano nodded. “That and other things.”

Anton was a little glad that Kal wasn't with him.

“That's a shame. It seems that I won't be able to get there for some time then. It sounds like the Deweth Clans are the best source of information about the Old Gods. Still, Seocuria is a long way from here.”

Ivano hummed. “You're heading to Seocuria? For someone that doesn't look like a slaver? Why go there?”

“I have my reasons to head to that place. Things I have to repay and do. And I have little time.”

“Are you dying?” Brenna asked. She looked him over. “If you can heal something like this...”

“Not dying. Not yet at least. But if we don't stand together we all will. I need everything I can get to help defeat something that comes from another realm. Beings of fire and hate. Demons. I'm building a city, maybe even a kingdom or empire, to combat this threat. They've already arrived on the far side of the world and alone we cannot stand against them. No one in the Shattered Kingdoms can survive on their own.”

Both frowned.

“And I need everyone that I can get to help me. No matter where they've come from or what they've done. So long as we all are willing to work together to defeat the threat. No matter who or what....” Anton smiled bitterly, clicking his tongue. “I presume that there's going to be consequences for your...failure?”

Ivano nodded grimly. “I'll be lucky if I can keep head when they're done with me. Perhaps they'll just send me back to the lowest rung. If I'm lucky.”

“I could offer you...asylum, if you so wish.” Anton said. “It's-”

Ivano smiled warmly, shaking his head. “I cannot accept that. I would be forever banished from my home, and my family, if I were to run now. Though I'm thankful that you gave me the offer. I don't think someone like me would be very welcome. Clansmen tend to stand out.”

Anton nodded. They were massive specimens for humans. Even Brenna was much larger than most women he had seen so far.

“I think you might stand out the least.” Anton said quietly. Ivano frowned but said nothing.

Anton looked at Brenna, who simply shrugged. “I must decline as well. I am not going to run now.”

“Well, there's little more I can do for you other than this.”

Anton rose up from the chair and motioned them to held out their hands. They seemed dubious but relented. Anton chanted a prayer to heal them to their prime, except to leave Brenna's scars. Huge amounts of his mana left him as the rejuvenation flooded over the two. Their eyes became more focused, their breathing easier, and cuts and wounds healed, except the ones on Brenna's face. Those lost their pinkness and turned into just a deep scar. Even their skin regained some youth.

“That...” Ivano stammered out, before chuckling. “I feel like a young man again.”

How old are you? You don't look to be later than thirty.

“I think that you'll be needing everything you can get to survive whatever the Clans are going to throw at you for failing.” Anton said. “Besides, I would very much like to have you alive. Someone within the Clans that I can work with. Your Orc friend seems a little unstable...”

“After killing thousands of us, you think that we would work together?” Ivano seemed genuinely intrigued.

Anton bowed his head. “I cannot bring them back. That is beyond my power. But alliances can have strange beginnings. From what I've been told.”

Ivano frowned and lent back into the chair. He seemed somewhat amused, judging by the light smirk on his face.

“Although that does mean that I have to survive my punishment first.” Ivano lamented, Brenna nodding. “And it would take some time, many, many winters before I could get into anywhere influential again. All the while the Clans will be doing what they do best.”

“Well...Should you survive...I'm going to put a bit of faith in you now. If you wish to get in contact with me, make for Mount Aspire in the old Kar Kingdom.”

“And we'll find you there?”

“Of a sorts.” Anton replied. “But, if you try to bring an army there for revenge, I will burn every village and city that you have with everyone in them. Every man, woman and child of the Deweth Clans will be ash and cinders when I'm done. You heard what happened at the Gravestone?”

They both nodded in silence.

“I can do that every day. And not even your best trackers would be able to find me. I have an exceptional hunter on my side, and even if you did, there's also a Blood Berserker to deal with. One that's just as powerful as me. Doubly so if you get within fifty feet of her. You understand?”

Ivano nodded.

“I do. But I kind of want to see my children grow up. But, speaking of that, it explains something.” Ivano spoke quietly. “The silver haired woman. Did you get her as a child from the Silver Eagle clan?”

This again...

Anton shook his head. “No. I'm thinking that one of their ancestors decided to visit the Kar Kingdom and left a present with a local woman, probably without her consent.”

A brief flicker of emotion burst onto their faces, and then it was gone.

“But, yes. That is her.”

Ivano hummed. Anton was sure that he guessed the cloth wrapped woman was the hunter. He wasn't sure of the population of the Deweth Clans, but three people could move almost unseen throughout the wilds. Especially with a good guide.

“If the time ever comes that I can travel, and I've got some power and influnce in the Clans again, I will be sure to remember it.” Ivano said, bowing his head lightly.

“I'm afraid that there's not much more that we can do for you, other than to set you free.”

“Any idea when that will be?” Brenna asked.

“I believe it will be tomorrow or the next day.” Anton replied. “It depends on how well the rest of your people are.”

There was a tremendous thumping on the door. It seemed he was needed elsewhere. He just hoped that he had done enough to start building a proper relationship with these Clansmen.

“I must say that I didn't expect to survive this.” Ivano said lightly.

Anton didn't know how to respond, so he rose out of the chair and thrust out his hand for him to shake. Ivano, after a moment of confusion, copied him. The man's hands were rough and thick, incredibly powerful too.

“Good luck Ivano, Brenna. May we meet under better circumstances.”

He moved and opened the door, the Qaiviel soldiers waiting on the other side. One was a Knight. He couldn't see the face underneath the helm but he was sure he was scowling at all three of them.

“We're done. Take them back to the others, and make sure they're fed well. They're all going to need it.”

Anton gave one last look at the bemused Clansmen.

“Good luck!” he shouted back, heading away. There were many people that needed healing before the day was done.

-------------

Hello!

Another shortish chapter...

Anyway, got a tentative understand with Ivano and Brenna about needing to change the Clans. Also that they've got the location of Atros, a piece of trust that Anton has given him, one that he hopefully won't abuse, but with the threat to back it up.

Also that the Deweth Clans are the only place that still worship the Old Gods, which makes it a very important place to visit but it is hostile to just about everyone. Just another reason to establish relations in Seocuria.

That's that.

Thanks for reading!