Chapter 066:
The once besieged city of Maxill rose out from the grassland. It was already under reconstruction, fresh pieces of wood adorned the damaged wall. The forest had long finished burning, though it had destroyed countless miles of once green and lush forest. It would be some time before it recovered. For that, Anton was a little annoyed. Doubly so since Nithroel was meant to be a goddess of the Forest. He hoped that he could make up for it. Possible ramifications with Nithroel didn't even play on his mind when he used the magic.
He would have to keep his head down for some time.
“They're doing very well.” Anton said, moving his horse to the side of the marching column of villager soldiers and mercenaries. The city watch of Nonbu'rn had remained behind, leaving them with a few thousand soldiers. Many were tired and were ready for a week long sleep once they got home.
Verona brought her horse next to him, Kal riding on the same horse.
“I'm surprised they've managed to get anything done without Alfred there.” Verona added.
“I assigned a good person to manage Maxill while I was gone.” Alfred said, stopping next to them. “They've done a good job, it shouldn't have been too hard. Just repair everything that's damaged.”
“Why not do this before?” Verona asked. “Maxill looked really bad when we first arrived. I think it looks a bit better now even.”
Alfred sighed. “Please do not go there, Lady Verona.” Alfred looked genuinely pained. “But, things will not go to the way they were before. Belinda has seen what can be accomplished once effort is applied.”
Anton hummed. It was definitely a sore point for him, one that he did not need prodding.
“Will Nonbu'rn be alright with you not there?” Kal asked.
Ever since that night she was speaking more openly with others. Not as much as a normal person would, but it was improving. He didn't want to think that their new intimacy had too much do with her increasing confidence, but there was something to it. She had never expected to have someone as close as they were now, especially not a lover. Or two. Verona had given her quite a few hugs, and Kal had held his hand quite a few times, in more private moments travelling with the soldiers. She still wore the cloth wrappings. It was such a shame to cover her like that, but he was sure that she was smiling.
Alfred chuckled. “Rosanna seemed like a good choice. She has good reasons to work hard and fairly for everyone. She won't become like the previous Governor...or how Belinda was before.”
“That was a surprise choice.” Anton said.
“You didn't see her face.” Alfred smirked. “Though she lept at the chance to do some good for the Kingdom. Being under the employ of Duchess Belinda didn't even enter her mind.”
Rosanna seemed like an odd choice for Governor of Nonbu'rn. At least initially. Her outburst against the previous governor, about his hoarding of gold and lack of care for the people of his city, made her the best candidate Alfred had. What her management skills were was a different matter. He hoped that Alfred had given her someone good to help her with that, perhaps someone from his old mercenary company.
“Everyone I know is very manipulative.” Kal mumbled. Verona reached back and patted her on the leg.
“I'm sure that Conrad is quite happy.” Anton said, getting their horses moving again.
Conrad, and his company, had been paid a generous sum from the recovered gold, on top of what he was to be paid by Alfred and Duchess Belinda. Now he was very eager to continue working for them.
“He is.” Alfred looked over at the column of soldiers.
The mercenaries passing had massive smiles on their faces. Some were even counting the gold coins in their hands, their faces filled with the dreams that gold could fulfil.
“How many will leave the White Dog company?” Anton asked, eliciting a hum from Alfred. “Now they've got all this gold.”
Alfred shook his head and looked over at the happy mercenaries. “All that money will go to their heads. Some will leave, they'll gamble and whore away most of it, then they'll come back. The smart ones will spend it on weapons, armour and training. Invest it somewhere usefull.”
“I've already told them that.” Conrad said, peeling off from the column of soldiers.
For some reason he had decided to walk amongst his men instead of riding on a horse.
Maybe he was talking to the new members, to warn them of temptation.
“I've managed to talk a few of the new, and old, men from just pissing off with the gold.” He smiled. “I know that it doesn't last long when you start gambling it away.”
“How fast?” Verona asked.
Conrad chuckled. “You could do it with a single throw of some dice if you really wanted to.”
Verona hummed. To throw away such a fortune...
“Will you be staying on?” Anton asked Conrad.
“If the Duchess and Alfred are willing to have us. We didn't run into any bandits along the way, but with seventy thousand soldiers running and fighting over the countryside they're going to keep their heads down. I saw quite a few hiding when we moved through. They're going to be moving in to take whatever they can.” he shook his head. “It'll be a shame, after all this, for Belinda's territory to go to shit from some shitty bandits.”
“I think that we will continue to use your company. So long as your rate is reasonable.”
Conrad smiled and curtly nodded to Alfred.
The soldiers on the north hailed them, opening the gate. Everyone cheered as they entered, returning as heroes. The villagers, soldiers and mercenaries took it in their stride. Reconstruction work had continued inside. Many parts looked better than before the siege.
“It's good to be back.” Alfred took in the smell of the city. There didn't seem to be anything that great here.
The army spread out amongst the city streets and the civilians coming out of their homes. He was not sure if they were entirely relieved at Alfred's, and the army's, return.
“I'll get the men rested.” Hemiskr waved at the soldiers to sit. “You lot need to go and see Belinda. Tell her the good news.”
Anton moved to Hemiskr and shook his hand, much to his surprise. “Just in case I don't get the chance.”
Anton did the same to Conrad. “It was a pleasure to fight alongside the both of you.”
Both looked at each other and laughed.
“It really wasn't a battle with you there.” Conrad said. “Hope to see you some day, and not on the other side. I know that I'll be running the other way and not looking back.”
“Me too. Good luck with whatever you're doing..”
The both shook his hand again before returning to the soldiers.
“Alright. Let's not keep her waiting.”
---[]---
Alfred led them through the inner wall to Belinda's mansion. As they travelled up the gravel pathway, to the front of Belinda's stone and 'small' mansion, dozens of maids filled out. An older looking maid came out through the center, just like how Alfred emerged the times he had done before. Anton did not recognise the woman. She was older than most of the maids.
“Alfred.” she began with a bow. “The Duchess will be glad to know that you have returned. Were you successful in your mission?”
“We were.” Alfred dismounted, motioning for them to do the same. Some maids came up and took the reins from the horses and led them towards the manicured grass. They all seemed quite happy to munch on the grass, despite being led by someone completely new to them.
“Where is Belinda?” Alfred asked.
“She is in the study at the moment.” the maid ushered them in. “She has been preparing something for your return.”
“By herself?” Alfred asked, voice full of concern. The maid nodded.
Belinda always had Alfred sign and make out the pieces of papers...Does she not know how to write? Perhaps not if she's never had to do it before....
Alfred and the maid led them through the mansion, heading up the stairs in the center of first room. None of the maids tried to stop them, or say anything about them carrying their weapons or military attire. That was something Anton was glad for.
They were led through more corridors, adorned with large paintings and statues, until they arrived at another large room near the back of the mansion. This looked remarkably similar to Governor Eilis's study room; many books adorning the walls, a large window overlooking the Accursed Forest, a large table along with many large plush chairs.
In one of those chairs, next to the table, sat Duchess Belinda. She didn't wear her normal red and white Victorian dress, instead a more red plain dress. It still covered most of her body, long sleeves with her hands still covered by white gloves. She looked far more relaxed than normal.
The maid announced their arrival, Belinda instantly warming into a smile.
“Alfred!” she cried out, leaping out of her seat. She caught the surprised eyes of everyone and hurriedly restrained herself. “Alfred. It's good to see that you have returned safely. Were you successful?”
“We were.” Alfred replied. He seemed a little stunned by Belinda's outburst, but he recovered quickly. “The Orc and Clansmen army has been destroyed. Nonbu'rn, and its territories are now under your control.”
Belinda smiled, picking up a piece of paper.
“This arrived a day ago. Written by Knight Commander Marcus, officially giving me control.” A wicked smile grew on her face. “My wealth, power and prestige has increased immeasurably. I have all of you to thank.”
She bowed deeply to them, specifically Anton, Verona and Kal.
“May we please sit?” Alfred asked, not that it really seemed like a question.
Belinda smiled and waved them towards the chairs surrounding the table. The maid, and Alfred, moved forward and arranged the four other chairs equally around the table. Belinda took her seat, motioning for them all to sit. Kal hesitated, but took her seat.
“Thank you.” Belinda turned to the maid. “Can you please shut the door? We'll be fine on our own.”
“Yes, my lady.” the maid bowed and left the room. The door clicked closed.
Belinda turned her attention to some bottles of wine on the table, holdings some papers down. She reached and began to pour one for each of them, waving away Alfred when he tried to help.
“I would like to thank each of you personally for you coming to our aid. I will ensure that this is repaid many times over. I...” she shuffled uncomfortably. “I would like to propose an alliance between the two of us.”
Anton glanced either side. Verona seemed interested while Kal remained indifferent.
“That sounds like a good idea.”
Belinda clapped her hands. “Wonderful. I just wanted to get that in before we start to get into the finer details of your reward. That might have distracted me from bringing that up.”
Belinda lent forward and shuffled some of the pieces of paper about. She stopped when she found one with numbers and handed them to Alfred.
“When I received the letter, stating how much territory I now controlled, I did some investigating through the records for what those territories will provide. I think these are a reasonable amount of resources to be sending to you over the seasons. But...I would like you to go over them first.”
Alfred smiled, smiled that she was asking for a second opinion. He looked over the numbers and frowned lightly. It seemed that Belinda may have promised a bit too much. He lent over and whispered into her ear, pointing at specific numbers, Belinda frowning but slowly nodded as her face softened.
It lasted nearly a minute before Alfred handed over the piece of paper.
Belinda coughed before Anton could read further.
“I'm afraid that I didn't take into account the damage caused by the invasion into my numbers. I can provide this level of support...But. It will have to be at the end of autumn when I can actually start.”
Anton looked up.
“I need time and resources to repair my territory, as well as setting up new industries and farms. That way I'll have a larger resource base to help in the future. Both of us will become stronger if I have this time to prepare.”
Anton nodded and looked back down at the paper. Verona and Kal leant over to look at the numbers.
“One hundred and fifty bondsmen every return trip, from Maxill to Atros.”
Anton looked up at Belinda. “Just for my sake, we'll make that every thirty or so days. That's how long it takes to get through the forest and back.”
Belinda nodded.
“Access to all goods and materials on offer throughout her territories. One cart load of raw goods, to be decided on each trip.” Anton hummed. “That's so we don't ask for a cart full of gold. Also specialised material and craftsmen to be decided on each trip.”
Anton looked at Verona. “What do you think?”
“Seems alright.” she said. “We've got just about everything we need in Atros, but what we really need is more people. And if we need anything special we can get it. I thought there...No. Bertram said that the planning of the city can't handle too many people arriving at once. Zac would certainly agree. So...I think it's okay.”
“What about you, Kal?”
She shrugged lightly. “Just about everything I need to live I can get from the wilds. I don't really know what you are planning to do, but more people sounds like it's the most important thing to you right now. Perhaps...Perhaps it increases to two hundred people starting from the end of winter. So long as it doesn't hurt their side of the deal.”
“I like it. I wonder if they will.”
Anton returned the piece of paper to Alfred.
“It sounds good. But, if we could make one small change.”
“Which part?”
“At the beginning of next winter, could we up the number of people to two hundred? I imagine that you'll be able to leverage your new found wealth and prestige into controlling more territory in the interim.”
It was a bit of flattery, flattery that Alfred saw through instantly, but Belinda smiled. She glanced at Alfred who returned with a nod.
“Very well. I'll make sure that's in the new agreement.”
“That's excellent. I don't see a problem with that.” He replied. “But. This whole incident has gotten me thinking over the past few days.”
“About fighting in another land?” Belinda asked.
“Sort of.” Anton replied. “We only found about the attack by chance. If you had tried to get us a message it would have taken nearly thirty days before we could help. But...If there was a way of sending messages instantly, then it would only take half the time. It would also allow us to communicate on all manner of important things. Planning for trade, technology or requests for help.”
“That has always been an issue within the Kingdom, and I'm sure that the other lands have the same problem. But we don't have a way to deal with that.” Belinda said unhappily.
Communication lines are always a problem. Especially in a place without even paved roads. It's time to get a bit more creative with my magic...
“I may have an answer to that.” Anton continued. “Do you have something to write with? Two of them?”
Alfred looked very surprised but retrieved two dip ink pens, handing them to Anton. Anton gave his silent thanks as he stood up and moved away. He could feel everyone looking at him, their eyes boring a hole through his head. This was something that had been bubbling away in the back of his mind.
He held both pens, one in each hand, and closed his eyes.
I hope that this can work. I'm going to need your help with this one Tethra.
Tethra, goddess of prayer, I beseech you to link this two pens. What one does when writing, the other copies. So that it uses the Earth Mana to function and write. And so that no distance shall stop it from working. Make the end glow when writing and not allow it to function if either is confined and unable to write.
It was a bit vauge but it seemed to work. A substantial amount of mana left him and flowed into the quills. He hoped that it would work. The only time he had tried to create, or modify, something like this was Kal's spoon, or his own eyesight modification. He hoped it would work, and it would last. He hadn't given an end time for the magic.
Here goes nothing.
“Can I please have some paper?”
Alfred stood up and handed him a blank piece of rough paper. Anton laid down both quills onto the paper.
This had better work, otherwise I'm going to look pretty silly. My magic went somewhere...Hopefully Tethra picked up a few of the gaps in my request.
He picked up one quill and began to write. Not in English, bit whatever the written language of this world used. There was no ink on the quill but it still wrote in a strange black thin writing. Slowly the other quill rose up and copied his words. Everyone remained silent as he finished and put the quill down, the other soon followed after it was finished copying his words.
A wave of relief overcame him as he lent back into his chair. Everyone stared at him in stunned silence.
“How did you do that?” Belinda asked, everyone mirroring her thoughts.
“I asked Tethra to link these two quills.” Anton began. “When one moves, so does the other. A perfect copy of what the other is writing. And it doesn't even need ink. But, only when it's writing. That way it won't spin or bounce about when you move one. I'm guessing that the magic takes care of figuring that out. Somehow.”
And it's not drawing any mana from me, or at least so little that I can't tell it's being used. Just what I asked for. Thanks, Tethra.
Alfred lent forward and spun one of the quills. The other remained completely still. He took the piece of paper and started to write, the other quill moved up and started to write onto the wooden table.
“Oh.” Anton mumbled, seeing the ink on the, presumably, very expensive wooden table.
Belinda waved it down. “Think nothing of it. I'll get another one if necessary. But this...This is amazing.”
“We'll be taking this one to Atros. This way we can talk to eachother whenever we want.” Anton said. He felt two sets of angry eyes descend upon him. He didn't mean it the way they were taking it. “For trade and defence. I'll make another so that I can communicate with Atros as well. That way when I'm away from Atros I can still send and recieve messages from you. It won't try and write if either of them are confined. So, if I'm travelling and this is in a bag you won't be able to write. That's why you'll be writing to Atros where it'll never be like that. But, that's just something I put in just in case.”
Belinda picked up the quill. “We'll have to get something made for something so valuable. A special area, a special desk. Somewhere safe from prying eyes...Thank you, Anton. This...This will be very useful. Can you make more?”
“I can. But, I don't want to make too many. They do take a bit of mana to create.”
“I understand.” Belinda clapped her hands. “Well, Alfred?”
“Yes?”
“Can you please get the maps? I think they deserve the copies.”
Alfred nodded and started rifling through many scrolls on the bookshelf.
“Maps?” Verona asked.
“From what I understand you don't have any real maps. Anton seemed quite interested with the maps of the Qaiviel Kingdom, like he hadn't seen one before. Maps, and their knowledge, is vital to any ruler. My family has acquired many maps over the generations. And I have some spare of the most recent. I think you'll want one of the Qaiviel and Kar Kingdom. We also have a map of Graterious, Bebbazar...and Seocuria, if you want them?”
“Yes.” Kal said.
Belinda smiled and nodded. “They are a little old, they were my fathers, updated when Alfred returned from Seocuria, so there's bound to be a few things that have changed. New cities, roads and plantations. Quite a few have been torn down. Especially since you've been there...”
The room went silent.
“What?” Kal said flatly. Verona's hands twitched in readiness, so too did Anton's.
Belinda sipped on the wine as she lent back into the chair. Alfred seemed unperturbed.
“You hide it well, but it's clear that you haven't had to blend in with humans for long. I'm guessing that you're a Beast-kin.”
Is...Is this meant to be some sort of intimidation? To get into a dominate position, even though that's not what either side of this relationship is about?
“Why would you say that?” Kal's voice was still flat, her body completely still.
Belinda smiled. “You hide it pretty well, but there are a few signs. Like completely covering yourself, though that can be explained. Your hood moved when you were here the first time, around your ears. And you were adamant that Beast-kin were not violent creatures, even though most people think they are. Especially those that have never met them. Alfred's told me that the opposite is true, something only someone that's been to Seocuria would know.”
“And so what if she is?” Anton asked, Verona nodding. “Does it matter?”
Belinda shrugged. “Not really. I was just curious...I've never seen one.”
She looked back at the door, seeing that it was still closed. “You can show yourself here.”
“I thought the Church of the Holy Father was meant to say Beast-kin were monsters.” Anton spoke quietly.
Belinda shrugged again. “They do. But they can't do anything this far our. They're far more annoying the closer you get to the capital. But, we're in privacy here.”
Alfred had five rolled up maps underneath his arm and placed them on the desk. No emotion graced his face as he sat.
“I would like to see.” Belinda said lightly.
Anton looked at Kal, he certainly caught her eyes. It was her decision. Kal sighed, and undid the wrap around her face. She lowered her hood as she freed the cloth. Her ears twitched as they were freed. She ruffled her dark aqua hair, stiff after being bound for the past several days.
Belinda looked a little confused, while Alfred was utterly stunned, his jaw almost dropped off.
“A half-breed?” Alfred coughed out.
“She's not a Beast-kin?” Belinda asked, receiving an odd look. “I've never see one before. So...”
Alfred shook his head. “A half-breed is when a human and a full Beast-kin have a child.” he looked very closely at Kal, who held her ground. “I never thought I would see another in my life.”
“How many have you seen?” Verona asked.
“Only one. A very long time ago. He was a Minotaur half-breed. Only a babe though.” Alfred shook his head. He could guess what he was alluding to.
Kal shook her head. “They do that.”
“How did you survive?” Belinda asked.
Kal glared, a tiny quiver of her clothed fingers. It was not something she had shared with any of them yet.
“Anyway.” Anton tried to steer the conversation away. “Kal is a Beast-kin. And someone very important to me. I will not have any harm to her, or any of us, by revealing this fact.”
Alfred raised a brow while Belinda chuckled.
“I will not speak a word of this. But, thank you for showing us.” Belinda bowed her head. “If the Church of the Holy Father found out that I even knew about a living Beast-kin even coming through Qaiviel, they would try and punish me. Take my lands and wealth. And I have no intention of that.”
Kal raised her hood and moved the chair closer to Anton. Belinda chuckled as she lent forward.
“Where will you be heading after this?” Belinda asked. “Will you be travelling deeper into Qaiviel? Or head east to Graterious?”
“What about south, to the wood elves?” Anton questioned.
Belinda did not know about their agreement with Nithroel, that they couldn't head more than fifty miles past the old capital of Surdon.
“That's...That's not a good idea.” she said. “The wood elves only have one trading site with the whole of Qaiviel, and that is heavily controlled, and on our lands. We cannot touch their forests.”
“If you were to head into their lands uninvited you would be killed without hesitation.” Alfred said.
Not that I had any intention to do it but I'm sure that Nithroel would be happy with me dead. She has a serious hatred of me now...More reason why we need to work even harder. And not piss her off.
“Thank you for the warning.” Anton said with a light bow. “But we were not going to head there any time soon. We've got quite a bit of monster infested lands to cover before we could even reach that place. Not to mention we've...Well. Anyway.”
Belinda and Alfred glanced at one another.
“There is another issue, not related to that.” Anton continued. “There are almost a thousand people from the destroyed villages and hamlets. What will happen to them now?”
Alfred shuffled and spoke first. “They will be sent to areas in the south to settle. Away from the places that cause them so much pain. Why do you ask?”
“Atros is in need of more people, especially in the short term. I don't know how well they will be able to work in Qaiviel, they'll still know that they are close to where they lost their livelihoods...I was thinking that we could take everyone that's willing to settle in Atros.”
“We can let you take up to a quarter.” Alfred said. “You can't just take everyone.”
“I understand. We'll take them when our first merchant arrives at Maxill.”
“You're sending someone through the forest?” Belinda asked. “Not you?”
“No. We'll be heading to Graterious. See what we can get from there.”
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
He wasn't going to reveal that they were going to head to Seocuria after Graterious, to start to free fellow Beast-kin alongside Kal's mother. Wherever she could be. Belinda smiled and nodded at Alfred.
“A half-breed could not travel through Graterious looking like that.” Alfred began. “And border guards might find it a little odd. And you don't have the eyes of a slave.”
“So?” Verona said. “Kal's travelled the wilds for most of her life. They haven't caught her yet, even though she wears that cloth.”
Kal winced slightly. There was still something that she was still meant to tell them. Was it something along those lines?
“But.” Alfred continued. “If you were to wear something a little more...expensive, you might be able to pass yourself as some sort of eccentric. One that dresses up willingly.”
Kal was genuinely offended by his words.
“And you have this something?”
Alfred nodded. He left the room, only to return a few moments later. In his hand was a mask. A white mask with a green line running along the centre. Over the eyes was a black meshlike material. Overall it looked like a masquerade ball mask. A mask without any real features.
He handed it to Kal, who regarded it with some suspicion.
“If you were to wear this, alongside your normal attire, you might...might be able to avoid greater scrutiny. So long as you get more expensive clothes. Less so than someone having a cloth covered face. None of you have been to a large city yet-”
“Nonbu'rn wasn't a large city?” Anton asked.
“No. It's a modest sized city. Especially since it's so close to the Clansmen territory. In Qaivel the further south and west you travel, the safer and larger the cities become. And someone there would ask about your face and demand to see it. No matter what you told them lay underneath. But, with that, you will have a greater chance of hiding your identity. It should work in Graterious as well.”
“Hmm....” Kal inspected the mask more closely.
Kal glanced up and saw both Alfred and Belinda smiling at her. She shrugged, retreating further into the couch.
“Thank you.” she spoke quietly.
“Do be careful if you head deeper into Qaiviel territory.” Belinda spoke to all of them. “You've been lucky that you've been on the outskirts, but the Church of the Holy Father has more sway the closer you get to the capital. Those fanatics are growing in strength daily. Any of them would like to see you dead, for being what you are. Those that practice with heretical magic, like two of you, are put to death.”
“What about me?” Verona asked. “They're going to try something because of what I am?”
Belinda shrugged. “Perhaps. But your magic will give them pause. Unless you do something to attract their attention they should leave you alone. Most don't want to die against a mage.”
Anton sighed. “That's a shame about the capital. I was hoping, one day, of seeing what the rest of your Kingdom had to offer.”
“It's rather beautiful. But, there are some sadder and darker sides to it.” Belinda smiled bitterly.
“I think it's like that everywhere.” Anton said.
Belinda chuckled, a warm and honest smile on her face. This time he felt three sets of angry eyes burning through him.
“In the meantime it's probably best you don't head close to the capital.” Belinda continued. “The Knight Orders and the Church have always been fighting. And with this attack dealt with it'll only make things worse.”
“Because the Church had nothing to do with it?”
“Exactly. All of Knight Orders can't resist a chance to dig at the Church. Political ramifications will be felt for some time. You could be attacked for supporting either side. It'll be very dangerous for a little while.”
“I thought the Church and these Knights would have been very close.” Anton said.
“They have bad history. Constantly vying for the King's ear. Though the Knights don't agree often, they will work together on this. Currently the Church has influence over the King and it's growing rapidly.”
“But their power won't be eclipsing for two or three more winters. Then it'll become a serious problem.” Alfred said. “Unless someone can pry them away from the King.”
Great. Sounds like a civil war of sorts is looming just over the horizon. A stable Kingdom is probably best for us. We might be getting involved once again.
“I have another question, if you don't mind.” Anton searched through the maps for the Qaiviel Kingdom.
He rolled it out on the table and looked near the bottom. Sure enough there was a mountain range, the center known as the Red Spines.
“What can you tell me about this place?”
“The Red Spines?”Alfred shrugged. “It's a large mountain range at the south of Qaiviel. A chain of small mountains within the range are covered in rust. It's not actually red, but...well, rust coloured. But...” Alfred frowned. “There are large Orc settlements throughout the range. They trade in metals, gems and rare hides...”
“Are you thinking they could attack from the south?” Belinda asked. “That would be terrible for the Kingdom.”
“No. I don't think so.” Anton replied. He glanced to Kal, who smiled awkwardly. “It's just that someone important is meant to be heading there.”
“The person that gave you the information of the Orcs and Clansmen allying?” Alfred asked.
Anton shrugged. “Basically.”
“Well, I haven't been there more than once.” Alfred began. “But you can reach them after arriving at the Wood Elven trading post. Once there you can just head up into the mountain. It's the only place that the Orcs trade with us as well, they don't like humans much. You'll definitely want an Orc guide, so you don't get lost or killed.”
“The...” Kal coughed awkwardly. “The ones we met didn't seem too violent.”
Alfred shrugged. “It's always good to be cautious.”
Belinda clapped her hands together. “We'll make sure that you have enough provisions for your trip home. But, before that, I would like to show you something. How normal people use magic.”
---[]---
Verona and Kal, under the escort of some soldiers and maids, left for the Limping Rat Inn for food and supplies. While eating food, that they hunted and gathered was good, they all desired something a little more refined. Different. Not that any of what they currently ate was bad.
Now out in the open Kal's stylised mask looked quite good. It was vaguely in the shape of a human, but compared to seeing the cloth wrapped face he could see why it might attract less attention. Or be a little easier to explain. He hoped.
Belinda seemed very eager to show Anton her magic, much to the angry glares of Verona and Kal. Both girls had been given an unlimited purse to spend in the city and could take whatever they wanted. That had quietened their issues. He had given them both a quick kiss before Belinda led him towards the rear of the mansion, Alfred following closely behind.
“Where can you practice magic here?” Anton asked.
Belinda, still wearing her casual clothes, smiled and waved to the rear of the mansion. This area was beyond the small garden, and was just an open area of grass. In the center of this area was a large circle made from flat white stones.
“Here.” Belinda said. “Nobody outside my retinue can be here. Only those on the wall could see, but they are my soldiers. That makes it the perfect place to practice.”
Alfred stopped some paces away while Anton was allowed to move closer. Belinda stood in the center and pulled out a silver object from around her neck. It looked remarkably similar to the one that the leader Orc, Zig, held in his hand. This was more of a silver spiral than just a disk, a large rem gem at the center, with more little red gems following the three arms of the swirls.
“This is my charm.” Belinda looked more closely at the charm. She used her sleeve to polish the gem. “My way of using magic. I don't often get to use it. Apparently I don't have much mana within me.”
She glanced at Alfred, who remained stoic.
“So I can only use it a few times a day like I'm about to. So you can see I couldn't help much with the siege...Anyway, I'll show you how I use magic, someone that doesn't have a glyph from the old gods.”
Anton walked backwards to the edge of the stone circle next to Alfred.
Belinda wore the charm around her neck and raised one hand to the sky.
“By the light of the fire, strike down my enemies!”
A fireball, the size of her head, grew out of her hand and flew into the sky, just as fast as Anton could if he pushed with all his might. The fireball soared as it grew weaker and weaker, until it disappeared completely.
Belinda looked down satisfied. She was breathing a little harder just after one use of magic. How much mana did she have? How much mana did he have?
“That looks pretty good.” Anton said. “Would it incinerate an Orc?”
She nodded. “Yes. Quite a few. When it hits something it showers everything in flame. Once I took out twenty Green Goblins with one of those. I didn't want that to happen, so I just threw it up into the air.”
“How many more can you do?”
“Another five or so. Then I'm done for the day. I don't have the strength to use it for more complex magic...like the flame pillars you used.”
“Can I have a look at it?” Anton asked, gingerly moving forward. “I've only seen a broken one. The one that Zig used.”
Alfred pulled out the broken white charm that Zig had used and handed it to Belinda. She took hers off and gave it to Anton.
“Please be gentle. A Fire Charm is extremely expensive. And...It was my fathers. It means the world to me.”
The piece of silver felt very heavy in his hand, and strangely warm. Otherwise it didn't look magical in any way. Something so precious...
“How does it work? Do you just push your mana through it and it forms the fireball?”
“Not really.” Belinda said. “Speaking the words helps me focus my mana correctly through the charm so I can create a fireball and release it where I want. The words help me remember what I'm supposed to do. How to form the mana within me. Powerful mages don't even need to say the words, even though it does make it easier. Though it does hint at what you're going to be doing to an enemy.”
Belinda's face turned to fear as Anton twirled the silver and red charm in his hand. “Please...Please don't try to use it. I don't think that it'll be able to handle the amount of mana that you have. I think it would just explode.”
“I definitely wont do that. But I thought that the fireball would have come out of the charm.” Anton said, handing it back to Belinda. “I'm pretty sure that's what Kal said the Orc did.”
A wicked smile came over Belinda's face. “That just means they don't know how to manipulate the formed magic well. It is much easier just to form the magic through the charm and release it. But someone that has skill, like me, can make it come out of body wherever I want. I just don't have enough mana.”
She placed the charm back around her neck and held out both hands.
“A snake of wrath and flame!”
A tiny swirling line of flame burst into life around her hand, slowly flowing to one from to the other. She didn't seem to be suffering from any heat problems.
“Any decent fire mage can do this. One of the most basic fire magic’s that all fire mages learn. Very little mana is needed. I could kill a Goblin with this, I can do this all day.” A smirk formed on her face. “Although I couldn't strike Alfred from here.”
She raised her hand and threw the snake of fire. It raced through the air at Alfred, the butler remaining completely stoic. The fire fizzled out before it reached him. Anton realised that he was well within her range.
“That's pretty impressive.” Anton mumbled.
Belinda smiled, a hint of a blush on her face, followed by a grumble from Alfred.
“Can you buy those charms?”
“They can only be handed out by the royal family.”
“So if this breaks you'll have a difficult time getting a new one?” Anton asked. “Wouldn't you also need time to adjust to using a new one?”
“So long as it's the same type it's not going to be problem. I can't use a water, ice or stone charm, for example. But this...”
She looked more closely at the broken charm. “But...But I've never seen one like this before.” she said. “I've never heard of a white one. Not even during my time in the royal academies.”
She looked even more closely at the few white gems on the broken charm. She pursed her lips and shook her head. “If it's alright with you, Anton, I would like to have someone look at this from the royal academies. They will surely know. They'll be able to tell where an Orc got something like this.”
“I wonder who made this thing. I thought I'd seen this sort of magic before.”
“Where?” Alfred asked.
“A Yellow Goblin, leading the attack on Atros. He was able to use the same magic, even though he didn't have a charm. And he was covered in some sort of...magic dampening metal...Gliyrhil. That's it's name.” Anton turned to Alfred. “That's the one that I said was covered was covered in cysts and puss.”
Alfred nodded. “I remember that. That was...odd.”
“Well. We killed it, and carved it apart, but didn't find anything like that. Would the royal academy like to have the samples?”
“They should.” Alfred said. “They'll be very interested.”
“I'm very interested in finding out what that thing was as well.” Anton said.
He wasn't going to tell anyone about the sealed up door at the depths of the mountain. Remembering that gave him chills.
“Could...” Anton scratched at his beard. “Could those samples be used to secure some books on magic? I still want to know what Qaiviel teaches officially. I'm running on what little I've been able to find out.”
“I'll see what I can do.” Belinda replied. “But I can't guarantee anything. You'll have a good chance to find something in Graterious.”
“Be sure to search Graterious's larger cities for anything of value.” Alfred began. “They are far more relaxed at selling magical items and tomes compared to here.”
“Anywhere we should look?” Anton asked. “So we don't end up having to wander the country and waste valuable time.”
“Since you will be arriving from the west, the first city of some importance that you'll come across is called Porswea. It's much larger than Nonbu'rn. It'll have all that you need. Just, be careful. The larger the city, the larger the number of theives and scum that infest its depths. Make sure you don't go anywhere near the slums.” Alfred laughed as he folded his arms, his eyes brought back some distant memory. “Once. Once six of us had to fight our way through about sixty thugs. All because one of us lost his purse and had to chase the little urchin down. That's another thing. You can't have your money in a crate like you did before. You'll need to get creative in how you hide it. And spend it. The theives have eyes and ears everywhere.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
“Well, that was some fun.” Belinda said, looking very proud with herself. “But we'd better go find your friends before they try to bankrupt me.”
“Actually,” Anton began. “I need to swing by Lester's shop before that. I need to get a few things.”
---[]---
Lester's shop was far more impressive than before. Despite the siege he seemed to be doing very well. Another building had been added to his shop. It seemed he was now looking to make a trading post rather than just a humble shop.
Belinda and Alfred, and their escort, waited outside. He did not want them try and interfere.
Inside was far more elaborately stocked and filled than before. And now there were nearly five people running about. Even customers, though they looked to be mercenaries.
He's doing quite well out of this.
He spied Lester at the main table, speaking to a group of traders. When he caught his eye Lester's face lit up. He seemed so happy to see him,. Thankfully, his professionalism refocused his attention to the traders. Anton took the time to wander about and look for a ring for Jeff.
I can't believe I'm actually having to say something like that. I...I never would have thought it was possible.
It took a little while for Lester to finish. As the traders left, with satisfied look on their faces, he made his way to Anton.
“Anton.” his voice was light and happy. “Thank you for saving this city and the Kingdom.”
Anton fought down a little flush of embarrassment.
“How can I help?” he asked. “Do you need more weapons or armour? We've got quite a bit now. Or something else?”
“I need a ring.” Anton replied, looking at the glass care infront of him.
Laying near the back were dozens of rings. Small silver bands. No precious stones adorning them.
“Which one interests you?”
“I'm looking for a good one. For a friend of mine. I believe they've been together for some time and they seem ready to lock down their relationship.”
“Ah...marriage.” Lester looked away, his eyes wandering. “Doesn't happen much here. It was too expensive to pay the Duchess.”
Did she take a bite out of everything?
“What...What are the marriage ceremonies where you're from?”
“I honestly don't know.” Anton's eye was drawn to a silver ring with a small blue gem on top. “But I think that I'm going to find out. I'll take that one.”
“Very good choice.” Lester waved to one of the young children running about his store. The child retrieved the rings and handed them to Lester.
“A lot more people than you had before.”
Lester nodded. “Indeed. Soon I'll be expanding into other cities. Belinda has given me...the authority to do so.”
“And in return you give her a part of your income?”
“A small part.”
Anton sighed.
Guess that not everything can change. Oh well. It works out for me in the end.
“That doesn't sound that surprising.”
“It's not that bad. I'm already making thirteen times what I was before. So, I'm not to worried.”
“Hmm. How much do I owe you.”
Lester smiled, handing the rings to Anton. “Nothing. Since the beginning you've been a great customer. And you've helped turned my life, and many here, even if you didn't mean to. So, consider this a bit of what I owe you.”
“Well...Thank you Lester. By the way, what was the name of that blue powder that I bought from you?”
“Dragon's Breath.” A questioning brow rose. “Is...Is it working for you?”
“It is. But I'll need a lot more. Preferably from the source. Any idea where in Graterious it's made?”
Lester didn't.
“Oh well. I'll find out when I'm there. Thanks Lester.”
Lester shook his hand before being called away by a loud mouthed trader. He gave a wince, in apology, and ran off.
Anton looked at the rings in his hand. “I hope they like this. I wonder what a wedding ceremony is like here.”
I'll get Verona and Kal something when we get to Graterious and Porswea. If it's a big city there's probably going to be a jeweller there. One that could make something very impressive for them. Hm...
As he stepped outside Alfred and Belinda greeted him.
“You get what you wanted?” she asked.
“I did. I didn't know that you were helping Lester's expansion.”
Belinda shrugged. “I told you that he's going to be making me a lot of money.”
That was all that was said on the matter, though he caught a sly smile on the corner of her mouth.
They found Verona and Kal outside the Limping Rat Inn, laughing and cheering while she ate a large plate of steaming food. Kal stared at the plate, her body language looked rather annoyed that she can't reveal her face. Around them were several soldiers and maids. They kept everyone else away. To the side were both their horses; new saddles and packs filled to bursting with food and supplies.
“Hey Anton!” Verona yelled out the moment they were sighted. “They've got some really good food here.”
Isobell, the owner of the Inn, stood to one side. Both her sons stood near the door with crude and heavy weapons in their hands. They did not trust the new management style just yet.
“It certainly looks like it.” he smiled as he saw the shine of the greasy food around her lips.
“We'll take some of this with us...for later.” Verona glanced at Kal.
“You've got everything?”
“You're little woman here decided that she was going to eat everything I had.” Isobell smiled. “Thankfully it's being paid for.”
“These three have more than earned any food that we can offer.” Belinda said. Isobell tensed as Belinda spoke, but held her ground.
“Thanks Isobell.” Verona gave a nod to Isobell. “Fantastic food. But, it's time for us to go back home. I want to be able to sleep in our own bed again.”
“Where are the maps?” Anton asked.
Verona nodded, pointing to a pack on the back of his horse.
“Got 'em in there. Made sure that they weren't scrunched up.”
“Thanks. So, are we ready to go?”
Verona and Kal nodded, giving a final thanks to Isobell, before moving to his side.
“Got a few bits of some very useful information. We've got a name of the next city we're heading to. From there we can plan our next move.”
“We're getting closer...” Kal said quietly. Anton patted her head gently.
“Thank you again, Duchess Belinda, Alfred, for continuing to work with us.”
Belinda frowned and shook her head.
“We should, and still are, thanking you. I hope to hear from you soon.”
Anton gave another light bow and mounted his horse.
“Farewell Belinda, Alfred. Send my regards to Hemiskr and Conrad. I hope that everything goes well for you.”
They gave a final bow and started towards the eastern gate.
---[]---
Once they were back into the relative safety of the forest they could relax, about what they said and how they behaved. Kal took the opportunity to remove her mask and feel the air on her face again.
She looked down at the white and green mask, a strange look on her face.
“It's not bad. Less scratchy than wearing the cloth.”
“It freaked me out a little.” Verona turned her head back to Kal. “I'm just so used to seeing you with the cloth.”
“Belinda's right.” Anton reached over and rubbed her head, eliciting a mewl. “It might make it a bit easier to travel through Graterious.”
“If I wear this...Make the straps a little stronger, so someone can't just take it off easily, then I might even be able to make it to Seocuria.”
“You're not abandoning us?” Verona asked, a tinge of worry in her voice. “Not after...well. No you wouldn't. Especially not after you've found us?”
Verona squeezed down on Kal's upper thigh. Kal's face reddened instantly. She turned away as her ears began to twitch happily.
“Of...Of course not.” she held out her hand, which Anton took. It was shaking slightly as he gripped it tightly. She seemed to relax. “If Tethra had told me what I would find here, I would have run away. It's...all too much for me to believe it's real.”
Verona reached back with a hand and squeezed down on her leg again. Kal squeaked in surprise as she held the back of Verona's hand.
“Well, it is. I hope you are enjoying it.”
Kal nodded furiously.
“When we make camp, we can have a bit of fun.” Verona chuckled. “Are we going to travel as fast as we can or are we going to take a bit longer?”
There was no mistaking what she was alluding to. Not that her wild smile could hide what thoughts were swirling about in her head.
“Let's see how the days take us.” Anton said, an unmistakable smirk on his face. He gave a final squeeze on Kal's hand before squeezing onto Verona's leg. She squeaked before playfully slapping his hand away.
“I...” Kal spoke, getting their attention. “I don't know how I could explain any of this to my mother.” She sighed. “That I've fallen in love with a human.” she glanced towards him. “And now I'm involved in a strange...strange relationship with with the both of you. I don't know what she would say.”
“Your mum's not too good with humans?”
Kal shook her head. “She did not willingly let my father lie with her.”
“I'm sure that your mother...can be brought around.” Anton said. “We'll able to convince her that this is your decision...Besides, I'm rather enjoying it too.”
Kal chuckled, closing her eyes and shaking her head.
“By the Gods...So what's our next move?”
“Simple.” Verona whipped the reins to get her horse moving faster. “We head back to Atros, maybe taking an afternoon at the lake where I can finally have a swim, have a few days rest there. Head to Graterious, find a way through to Seocuria safely.”
Verona turned back to Kal with a wild smile on her face.
“Then rescue your mother. Easy.”
Kal laughed. “You make it sound all so simple.”
“It is.” he lent over and kissed her deeply, her face scarlet when they parted. “Now that we're all here together. Come on. We've got quite a bit of ground to cover before we break for camp.”
Verona laughed wildly, Kal smiling back.
I'll take care of this family. My new, weird and wonderful family.
---[]---
Ivano stared over the frozen lake infront of him. A lake at the top of the hills just inside the Deweth Clansmen's territory. The ice cold wind howled around them. Slowly the cold travelled through his metal armour, but the thick furs insulated him. Falling snow had already reached up to his knees and was continuing to fall, every step was slowly becoming more difficult. But he didn't mind.
He was alive.
Never would have thought those Knights would actually listen to what that Grand Mage had to say. Thought they would just shoot us with arrows for sport before we made it to the snow...What really happened there?
What were those three? The Grand Mage mentioned something about Demons, but is that the real reason why he wants to work with us? Healing us all? I'm-
“What's wrong?” came a voice near him.
A clansmen was speaking, but not to him. He was speaking to another that had curled up in the snow. The man had given up, and chosen to freeze in the snow, rather than go back home in shame.
He looked back, towards the green lands of the Qaiviel Kingdom. Along the snowy hills were dozens of brown lumps; Clansmen that had given up the will to move forward. Nearly a hundred of them littered the snow.
Ivano walked towards the collapsed Clansmen, slapping him hard in the face with his metal fist.
“Ow!” he groaned.
“Get up.” Ivano ripped the man to his feet. “And keep moving.”
“Yes...Chief.” the man grumbled, beginning to trudge again through the snow.
I don't think I have to right to be called a Chief any more.
The other man nodded in thanks before following right behind.
“Quite a few of them are doing that.” a familiar voice spoke from some distance away, getting closer. “Doesn't seem like they've got much hope.”
Ivano turned and saw Snakha, his maybe Orc friend, moving through the snow like it was not even there. He had been given a thick coat by the Qaiviel Knights, something nobody expected, and had been walking with them. He and the Orc survivors. There were only a few hundred left. Zig had been right in one respect, they had suffered the most of this invasion.
“I do what I can.” Ivano said. “This is the truth of a horrific retreat; people just giving up hope and lying down in the snow to die. Not able to bear with the shame of defeat.”
“Can you blame them?” Brenna asked.
She followed close to Snakha, though she kept her eye on him. The scar on her face made her look like a seasoned warrior. After meeting the Grand Mage, the slim blonde man that decimated their armies, she had been rather quiet. He hoped she was just trying to figure things out in his head.
Snakha moved next to them and overlooked the lake. He knew this place. This lake very rarely thawed, but at the height of summer it melted and turned into quite a large fishing spot. It was strange how close they could get to the enemy and neither side paid any attention to each other. Perhaps that was what that Grand Mage, Anton, was guiding him towards when he woke up. Perhaps not. But there was something there.
“Perhaps I can.” Ivano replied. “For being too weak to survive the shame defeat. They'd rather just curl up into a ball and die rather than fight on.”
Snakha chuckled as he swung his axe lazily infront of him. The axe he had killed someone for. There were quite a few contradictions in his actions. Ones that Ivano couldn't figure out.
“Why did you try and find my body? I never did ask.”
Snakha shrugged. “Didn't really feel right what Zig did to you. Everyone had already decided to live, but then that prick...heh...decided to go down fighting and kill everyone he could. I'm sorry what Zig did to you, Brenna. Shouldn't have let that prick do what he did.”
Brenna shrugged, a mailled hand touching the scar underneath her eye, and towards her neck.
“I didn't see it coming. That's my fault. A Clansmen should be taken out so easily. What happened to Zig? Nobody told me, other than that he's dead. We're more than far away enough now.”
Ivano shrugged.
“He got what he deserved in the end. One of those Qaiviel soldiers said that he got stabbed in the eye and most of his face bitten off. Didn't say who. Or how. They thought that would make me angry. It's just a shame that I didn't get to see it, or thank who did it. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the Grand Mage or the Blood Berserker...”
“Did you know he was a Thrall?” Ivano turned to Snakha.
“Yeah. To an Orc it's really obvious.”
“I don't know why your kind followed him.”
“That's a good question.”
Snakha sighed and began walking with the rest of the survivors. The column, of a little more than a thousand, was slowly making its way towards the closest Clansmen city. They would reach it well before nightfall, even with the snow, but Ivano was dreading the response.
“What are they going to do when they find out that we've had to retreat?” Ivano said aloud.
“You think you're going to run into your army?” Snakha replied.
“They'll be so happy to see us like this.” Brenna mumbled. “Running away...Again.”
Ivano did not miss the change in her language. Had he changed her mind? Only time would tell.
“Yeah.” Ivano chuckled. “And what they're going to do to me.”
Snakha scoffed. “What about me? I'm the highest ranked Orc left. What do you think Zig's father's going to do to me once he finds out his son is dead?”
“Nothing good.” Brenna smirked. There was no love lost between herself and Zig. If she had awoken she would have fought half the Qaiviel forces to get to Zig to kill him herself.
“Do...Do you want sanctuary with my clan?” Ivano asked.
Snakha smiled bitterly. “I don't think that's going to be worth much. Especially since you won't be a chief, of any kind, once they find out how badly this whole thing went.”
Ivano grumbled. If he was lucky he might get away with his head still on his shoulders. Maybe. At the very least he probably wouldn't ever get to see his wife and children again.
Brenna looked equally dejected. “I think that this'll be the last raid I go on...I guess that means I'm going to be married off to some grunt Clansmen warlord.”
Brenna shuddered.
"Some big, dumb, disgusting and hairy thruster." Brenna shuddered again. "He'll thrust three times and then be done, letting out a grunt like he's just slain a dragon, and then just flop his sweaty body ontop of me. For fuck's sake..."
Snakha chuckled, shaking his head. "Maybe you do have it worse. The men here are just going to have our heads cut off."
"I suppose." Brenna replied.
They seemed to be getting on better than what he thought they would, especially after their first meeting.
“Maybe...Maybe we should try to change the Clans. Away from this raiding. Towards something more peaceful.”
“Did you just get hit in the head by some heavy snow?” Snakha asked, trying to hide a chuckle. “I thought you told that blonde mage twat that story so he wouldn't kill you. That's what it sounded like when you told me.”
“I did. But...Maybe there's something to it. I...I don't know. You didn't seem very happy when you heard that the Knights were going to kill all the Orcs running outside Nonbu'rn.”
Snakha grumbled, his shoulders drooping in dejection.
“Perhaps...” he shook his head.
His arm moved forward and stopped Ivano.
“Listen. If you're both still alive at the end of summer, come find me. If I'm still alive I'll be in Ozizgrad. Find me there. If you wish to speak further.”
Snakha smiled and patted him roughly on the back. He shook Brenna's hand and patted each other on the back. He said nothing more and walked ahead, leaving Ivano and Brenna standing alone in the snow. Ivano looked up at the cloudy sky, the flakes of snow falling upon his face.
I wonder what he's planning. What anyone's doing. Only one way to be sure. And that's to survive.
--------------
Hello!
The Arc is done! I've got one more but it comes under more of an intermediate chap.
Anyway, got the agreement with the Duchess, as well as a way to communicate between the two. Something that will be sorely needed.
Shown how normal people use magic, so that's cool.
Also got the wedding rings for Jeff so we can see how that happens, and what the future hold.
Ivano's still kicking and heading back home, although in disgrace and worried for his future. Throughout the next Arc I'll be splicing his journey throughout. Also what's happening in Qaiviel thanks to his involvement. A few more different character positions. Hope that goes well.
Right, Thanks for reading!
And for any Donations!