Chapter 179:
Air whistled past Anton’s ears, filling him with a constant whistling. The Chirok’s flew higher than last time, not enough to reach the highest clouds but several layers were beneath him. While the beasts were fine with the cold Anton was not. If not for the thick layers of clothing his limbs would have frozen.
“My wrist would still be the same.” Anton murmured through the cloth covering his face. “Still feels like it’s grinding granite in there.”
The Chirok turned his head towards Anton, staring at him as its ears pricked up, immediately flattened by the wind whistling past.
“Don’t mind me.” Anton rubbed his neck. “I just ramble some time.”
The Chirok huffed and continued flying south. Though the day was beginning to come to an end Anton still wanted to scout further south. The wooden armoured Goblins continued to grate on his mind, small in number they were, they still represented a massive escalation in their strength. And since they had already seen them before he knew it wasn’t an isolated incident.
Anton felt the Chiroks veer away slightly from the Accursed forest. Below lay the ruined Lumber Mill, still frozen from Mezot’s magic.
“Can you sense Principle Magic?” Anton asked. He knew the Chirok’s couldn’t speak but he could not help himself.
The female Chirok, closest to the forest, dipped slightly. After a few beats of her wings, she returned to their altitude but not without more beats of her wings than the male.
“Must be something Mezot did...Is it actually colder above it?” Anton waved his gloved hand high into the air. “I can’t feel anything different, but those Ice Shards emerged here before smashing into the ground. Is there still something here?”
Anton knew he wasn’t going to receive an answer and continued directing the Chirok’s south.
“How’s it going up there?” Verona asked through the ring.
“Fine. Cold, but fine. I can’t see anymore Goblins or Ghlotsm. Shame we don’t have Mezot with us right now.”
“Her magic acting up?”
“Just wanted to know how much she knows about her magic manipulating the weather. I’m sure it could be done if one worked hard enough.”
“Mezot definitely has the skill.” Verona laughed. “But don’t go too far. We want you home for tonight. Spend our nights in a bed rather than a rucksack in the wilds.”
“It’s not that bad,” Kal said softly.
“Since I’m so high I can see really far. I’m not going to drop magic on Surdon, just in case we stir up the nest. One quick look and then I’ll be back.”
“Okay.” Verona sighed very softly. “Just yell if something goes wrong. We’ll ride through the whole night to come and get you.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll see you all soon.”
Anton continued peering over the heads of the Chiroks, trying to see through the clouds for the ruined capital city of Surdon. Thanks to his elevation and increased sight range he found it rather easily. He tried to enhance his vision to get a better look but the Chirok’s movements made it impossible, nothing more than a disorienting and vomit-inducing blur. Instead, he found the ruins of a small castle resting upon a stony some distance away. It sat on the centre of a small hill, one of the few topographical features for many miles. Though there was a risk the Goblins might be using it for shelter for the winter it was simply the only place for Anton to get a good look at the city.
“Down there’s good.” Anton murmured.
Fliodher’s influence over the Chirok’s, making them more docile and domesticated, helped greatly as they only required the lightest touch from their reins before they descended. As before the Chirok’s were not the greatest of landers, spreading their wings at the last moment and bouncing violently once their feet made contact. Regardless they both looked extremely happy with themselves to have made a successful landing.
“Can’t believe you get excited about this.” Anton didn’t remove his harness, much to the confusion of the Chirok. “If I landed like that I’d have hurt my legs.”
He silently chanted a healing prayer. It did nothing but the beast appreciated the gesture nonetheless.
Anton summoned two Large Fire Imps. The Chirok’s were wary of the flaming creatures, growling as they backed away and pulled together, unsure of what to make of these things. Anton was a little happy to see the Male Chirok’s wings rise and his head shifted in an attempt to block Anton from harm.
“They’re with me.” Anton stroked the Chirok’s ears. He looked at the patiently waiting Large Fire Imps. Already the light snow around them had vanished, leaving two growing clear circles in the white. “Make sure that nothing approaches us. If they do, kill them.”
Summoned creatures didn’t have the best understanding at times, unable to determine a hidden meaning, but the order was simple enough. The Fire Imps breathed a steamy breath before turning to the castle. Without a word they charged towards the broken and dilapidated walls. Screeches, along with the tumbling of rocks, followed.
“So they were watching us. Oh well. Let’s see what Surdon’s all about then.”
Anton faced the giant city and enchanted his vision.
Surdon was nothing like he had seen before, and not for good reasons. The city itself was two or three times as large as Porswea or even Boreana, surrounded by a large stone wall. The city lying outside, if it could even be called that, made his heart drop. Ramshackle buildings, more shacks than even a basic building, spread for several hundred meters beyond the wall, a pathetic wooden palisade beyond that. The rooves weren’t covered with snow even though it continued to constantly fall around them. Tiny trails of smoke, from fires barely bigger than his fist, dotted the slum city. Anton finally found the Goblins, hiding in the relative protection of the homes. They barely ventured out, content with sleeping out the winter. Anton’s heart dropped even more when he counted thirty Goblins in one building alone, all huddled together like hibernating rabbits.
“There are at least a hundred buildings in that tiny section alone…” Anton winced. “Dana thought there were seventy or sixty thousand. Clearly that’s changed.”
Anton continued to observe the city. He looked beyond the slum city, he didn’t want to try and comprehend just how many of the little creatures were waiting for them, and into Surdon proper. Though the walls were high he could see the giant castle and the mansions forming the centre of the city. They looked in surprisingly good condition. Upon further inspection he noticed roughly repaired sections, far beyond what one of the Goblins could manage on their own.
Someone, or something, is directing these creatures. They should have turned on themselves by now, split up as there’s simply too many. And yet…
“What’s happening in the castle?” Anton wondered aloud. A loud shriek came from behind. A small group of Goblins had just been cornered by a Fire Imp.
Despite the sun still hanging in the sky there were tiny pinpricks of light amongst the spires and halls of the central castle. Anton increased his vision once again.
“People.” Anton clicked his tongue. “There are people living in there.”
He followed a man and woman, dressed in simple peasant attire, carry some small crates from one end of a room to the other. Memories of The Shadow Isles, of what Verona and Kal witnessed, came back. Sure enough, the humans carried a small amulet around their necks, a kind of fetish necklace of seemingly random construction. Unlike the cultist they discovered at the Graterious Empire’s border, The Ancient Listeners, they did not move like marionette’s walking to a single puppeteer’s will. They certainly weren’t happy but they had no qualms about living in Surdon, at least that’s what Anton felt from watching them from several miles away.
“First on the border near that chasm, then The Shadow Isles harvesting that mercury stuff, now here?” Anton shook his head, never moving his eyes lest he vomit. “Ferula’s got no idea how far their power reaches. Hell, they could have been involved with creating those Mottled Goblins. No news...Shit. We didn’t check the Royal Academy’s library for anything about them or the Ghlotsm. Most of our knowledge comes from Kal and an old hunter’s scribbles in the margins of a book, figuratively speaking.”
Although his scouting mission could easily be called a success Anton did not leave immediately. He continued to search the central castle for some sort of clue, more information about what they were planning. It was nearly impossible. This castle was designed as an actual castle, not a glorified palace. Designed to repel invaders, and that couldn’t be done with giant glass windows, even if the castle lay at the heart of a massive city and would probably never see action.
“Just more of those people. I wonder what Cetina would say?”
Anton had a set of portal stones with him, just in case, but he was about to leave. As he readied to tap the side of the Chirok’s waist, the signal to rise, his eyes finally stopped on the tallest tower of the castle. This tower was quite ornate and had very large glass windows, albeit broken. Two people stood on the balcony, two very young people. A boy and a girl. The boy pointed to the few interesting landmarks while the girl tried her best to pretend to be interested while desperately hiding a level of disgust that Anton had not seen before. Had she been a little older she very might have thrown the boy over the edge. Or herself. But the boy didn’t seem like he was disgusting, far from it. He seemed like a normal boy. The more Anton looked the more he was certain he had seen both before. Realisation washed over Anton.
“That cult is here! I can see that boy that was eating the Goblin flesh.”
“How?” Kal asked.
“These were the people you met before us?” Cetina asked immediately after.
“Yes. And they’re here. In Surdon. Leading the Goblins.”
“Well...Fuck.” Verona clicked her tongue. “Oh. Rasha and Ulyaa are wondering why our faces are changing so much. Not the right time, I know, but do you think we should get Rasha one of these necklaces?”
“How can you be so calm?” Kal asked dryly.
“Probably because they aren’t doing anything right now,” Anton said. “They have this many, they could easily crush us. Winter saved Atros and bought us a little time.”
“Good thing we know about it,” Verona said. “With everyone’s magic, Mezot’s and even Axia’s, we’ll be able to push them back. Especially with your new weapons.”
“Yeah...Remember the city we found later? The one that Ferula directed us too?”
“Yes?” Verona and Kal answered simultaneously.
“There was that girl that was offered to me. So that I would stay in their village?”
“You were honestly offered a wife…” Cetina groaned. “They probably thought it was a good idea. You already had two swinging off your arms by then.”
“Is she there?” Kal asked.
“Yes. She’s standing right next to that boy. Doesn’t look like she’s having a good time.”
“How many people were in Soulthor?” Kal asked softly.
“Oh no.” Verona winced. “Quite a few. It wouldn’t make that many but it would certainly help.”
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“Those Mottled Goblins were created extremely quickly.” Anton folded his arms, not that anyone could notice. “Maybe they’ve found someone that knows a lot about these creatures. How to breed them extremely quickly. Or give the Goblin females greater fertility.”
“Are you going to attack it?” Cetina asked.
“No. we’re done here for the day.” Anton deactivated his eye enhancement. “I don’t want to stir them into action early.”
“We can’t keep working harder.” Verona sighed. “There’s only so much that we can give with what we have. We need more raids on Seocuria. And there’s...There’s only so much we can do before the snow melts.”
“We’ll see you back here soon,” Kal said. “Make sure you come back straight away.”
Anton tapped the side of the Chiroks. The two had tried their best to lie in the snow, the male couldn’t move much because of Anton but his mate had curled into a ball, her large bat wings tucked in tight.
“Hope it’s not too cold for your wings.” Anton rubbed the Chirok’s neck. “But you didn’t complain when you left, so I hope it’s alright.”
As the beasts readied themselves for flight Anton checked on the Large Fire Imps. They had scoured part of the ruined castle of Goblins and were currently stalking its halls looking for more. Anton dismissed them, returning them to whatever ethereal realm they originated from. He gave the beasts a final kick and they soared into the air. Thoughts tumbled through his head; theories as to why The Ancient Listeners had chosen Surdon, the cult’s plans and how to make Atros strong enough to deal with them when the time came. Thankfully the Chirok’s knew the way home and guided him back without a word.
---[]---
“How many?!” Dana almost had Anton by the collar, only Cetina’s and Rasha’s presence physically prevented her. “How many did you just say?”
The Chiroks, in their large open pens nearby, meandered towards the sudden burst of noise, curious as to the source. Even the pups looked worried, but that was coated with their endless energy.
“I don’t know.” Anton gently lowered both of their arms. “But many more than I’ve ever seen in one place. Many times more.”
“Fucking things!” Dana kicked at the snow. She quickly calmed as she gripped her hands tight. “I don’t want anyone to go through what I did.” She kicked at the snow one last time. “When are we going to attack?”
Anton readied himself for another verbal assault. “Not yet.”
Dana glared daggers at Anton. She clenched her fist, waiting for him to explain himself. Verona and Kal stepped closer, not that they were necessary with Cetina and Rasha by his side.
“There are simply far too many for us.” Anton continued. “But don’t think for a single second that I’m just leaving them be. I want to establish forward bases to alert us of their presence, maybe even keep them back. But I need more Strohierite stones to establish an effective perimeter around Atros.
Anton pointed to the roofed tower at the centre of Atros. “I know that you don’t want those things to be flying over the city. If I can get more of those Strohierite stones than they won’t be able to get so close. Start to free and secure areas, for future settlement.” Anton scratched the nose of the closest baby Chirok. “Once they’re settled properly the Goblins and Ghlotsm won’t stand a chance.”
“And these stones?” Dana raised a brow. “If you can’t get them then there’s no way that Raston or anyone in Qaiviel could.”
“I can help with that.” An elderly voice spoke from behind the Chirok’s sleeping hut.
Rasha readied her weapon, standing between them and the source as the Chirok’s growled at the unnatural breach of their den. Ferula emerged from behind the building, pretending to struggle with her can but Anton knew it wasn’t necessary, while it cut a path through the scattering of snow it never actually touched the ground beneath.
“Hello, Ferula.” Anton smiled. “I didn’t think we’d meet you so soon. I thought you said you were busy.”
Ferula smiled as the baby Chiroks ran up to her, their parents were not so jubilant and growled at their children. Their ears pricked up and slunk back to their parents while Ferula continued to walk to the fence.
Rasha stepped back and leant down to Anton. “Who is this?”
“Ferula. A Strega Witch.”
Rasha looked at Cetina in a mixture of confusion and deep concern.
“Not the same ones.” Anton smiled forcefully. “Think of them as a splinter faction.”
Cetina grumbled, never taking her eye off of Ferula.
Ferula silently waddled towards the rickety wooden fence. She let out an exhausted side as she rested her hand and weight on the fence.
“I had a little time free.” Ferula’s toothy grin did not fill Anton with the sense of calm she clearly intended. “So I thought I should give you everything that I’ve found. It’s not as much as I hoped but these are extremely rare and difficult to find.”
Ferula produced a large sack, far too large for her to hide underneath her tattered shawl.
“Excuse me, Miss Blue Oni, but could you please take this?”
Rasha looked to Anton for an answer. When he gave a nod she, somewhat reluctantly, let her halberd rest against the fence and took the bag. Rasha frowned as she lifted it high, Anton knew that she wanted to comment on how heavy it actually was.
“Anything good?” Verona lightly tapped Rasha’s arm to lower the bag. “Any of those stero-whatever stones?”
“I have some.” Ferula sighed. “But they are extremely hard to find. Even with my knowledge and reach, I am finding them extremely limited. There were some mines during the era of the United Empire but those were small and easily depleted. Somewhere out in the world exists another deposit, of that I am sure, but I simply cannot find it. Well, not on these lands atleast.”
Verona pulled out a small Strohierite stone, barely an inch across. The small stone could hold a single level ten summon. Since the Lightning Crows could hover in the air, away from potential reprisals, they made the most sense to be used to form a defensive perimeter around Atros.
“I count...Twelve of these small ones.” Verona continued to rummage through. “And four of the next size up.”
“As I said, it was very difficult.” Ferula shook her head. “Maybe they exist on an undiscovered island or cave, but this is it.”
“Maybe Wilford knows someone?” Anton wondered aloud. “Dealing with illegal goods, he might know someone that knows someone. Won’t be cheap, I know that.”
“Where did you actually find these?” Kal asked. “Did you rob some wealthy lord who kept them in their treasury?”
Ferula chuckled. “One or two might have been, not that they really understood what they had in their possession. Also a good test for my younger acolytes, give them some experience in the real world.”
“All of them?” Anton asked. “Even that one that was burned to a crisp?”
“She’s better now.” Ferula’s face hid something, disappointment perhaps? “And stronger for it. She will not be failing or humiliating herself like that again.”
“She was fighting against Principle Mages,” Verona said softly. “And they might have been young but they certainly weren’t weak.”
“Of course not. Not like your Ice and Water Mage.” Ferula smiled. “She has lived a hard life, not in the same way that you or I might imagine, but tough nonetheless.”
“I can only imagine what she has been through.” Anton peered into the bag of Strohierite stones. “Just how closely are you watching us? Every person that we talk to? That must get exhausting.”
“I check from time to time.” Ferula shifted more of her weight to the fence. “Just to make sure. You’re doing an extremely good job with what you have. Oh.” Ferula stepped back and began to rummage through her shawls. “There is something extra for you. Not as a reward for doing so well, not that you don’t deserve something, but it was something I intended to find. A way for you to create and use more of those magical creations of yours.”
Ferula laughed lightly as she drew a scroll from her many tattered clothes. Anton wasn’t surprised when it was larger than she was.
“A complete schematic of a Noding Tower.” Ferula held the scroll aloft. “Designed by the best Dwarven Engineers of the United Empire.”
“We’re going to be overshadowed by them quite a bit, aren’t we?”
Ferula handed the scroll to Rasha, Cetina made no attempt to even pretend to take it. “They did have generations to grow so powerful. But you’re doing well with what you have. Especially those Dwarves. Their technology will help you greatly, especially if I couldn’t find this. Their contraptions don’t need a constant feed. Just those little cubes.” Ferula smiled. “I hope you don’t neglect them because of this.”
Anton murmured for Rasha to unroll the scroll.
After what they’re going to build for me? For us? How could I ignore or cast them aside? Those rifles are just the beginning.
The incredibly detailed schematics showed a one hundred feet tall obelisk. Geometric patterns were etched into the four surfaces, from gold and some purple mineral, with a large crystalline structure at the top.
“This looks expensive.” Anton tapped the lines detailing the construction method of the black exterior. “I’ve never heard of this...Yegril? Never heard of it. Something super rare I bet.”
“I’ve never heard of it either.” Ferula sighed. “It was very difficult to find that single piece of paper. It might be one of the few left in the entire world...Maybe Xiam has one hidden in one of their libraries but I…” Ferula laughed. “Even I won’t live long enough to peer through all their dusty tomes.”
“Thank you.” Anton passed the scroll to Kal. “We will start construction the moment we can.”
No way to be sure that this isn’t just some sort of conduit for whatever the Strega Witches were planning for those stones. Or it might be genuine...How to figure that out? Can’t exactly compel her to speak the truth, I’m sure she’ll have a countermeasure, especially if she even knows Mezot’s name.
“I’m sure it will help.” Ferula frowned lightly. “But it will be extremely expensive if I haven’t heard of this metal before. Oh, and don’t let the Stone Men see you with that paper. They’ll be beyond furious.”
I know where to start to look. Somewhere in the Clans territory. Where the United Empire began.
“I don’t think I’ll be getting there anytime soon.” Anton smiled. “They don’t like anyone but themselves.”
“I wouldn’t even go that far.” Ferula chuckled. “But...I’m afraid that’s all I have for you. And I have already spent too long away from my duties.”
Ferula looked to the east, frowning at the sky. “Things are moving. Across the seas, things that might be beneficial or a terrible hindrance to us all.”
What even is to the east of this land? Seems to be endless ocean. Maybe Wilford will know.
“Though I would love to talk further we should not hold you back.”
Not like we could anyway.
"Can you at least tell us what's happening in Surdon?" Anton glanced to the south. "Those cultists, that were chasing us when we first met, have set up shop there and look like they're staying too."
Ferula slowly nodded. "I am aware of them. They will not even dare threaten you until the snows clear. You have that long to prepare yourselves. If you cannot defeat them then you have no hope securing yourself as the leader of an entire kingdom."
That's a load of bullshit. I doubt we're being used as a meat-shield, a barrier, since your swamp is hidden far away in the south of Graterious. Considering how you treated that young girl this might just be the way you are.
Anton resigned himself for an disapointing response. "If possible, could you inform us when they are on the move? We need every second to prepare."
Ferula nodded. "Of course. I wouldn't leave you defenceless."
Verona shared a glance with Dana, neither said a word but their exchange spoke volumes.
Anton waited for Ferula to speak again but she did not. He clapped his hands to break the silence. “Good luck, Ferula.”
“As to you. I shall see you all soon.”
Ferula waved at the baby Chiroks, the small beasts wanted to play but their parents scolded them with a deep yet soft growl. She gave a final wave as she passed by the Chirok’s building and vanished from view. Rasha frowned and walked along the fence to see past.
“She’s gone.” Rasha was utterly astonished, shaking her head as she returned to their side. “How can she do that? Can you do something like that? I couldn’t see one of those portal things.”
“Strega magic,” Cetina growled. She looked at the building as the Chirok’s began to investigate the sudden disappearance. “Never get involved with that stuff.”
Rasha scratched her cheek. “I don’t think that I’ll ever use magic. But...I…” Rasha shrugged. “Where do you want these, Anton?”
“Can you make those perimeter defences now?” Dana asked.
During their brief interaction she had been perfectly quiet, content to watch and observe in total silence. Anton wondered if Ferula even noticed her presence. She probably had but Ferula did seem very distracted, like she was taking a considerable risk just to visit them for a few moments.
“Tomorrow morning.” Anton nodded to the setting sun. “We’ll need your riders too. While we build the towers, don’t want anything to break these stones and destroy the Lightning Crow.”
“I’ll talk to Zac.” Dana frowned lightly. “See about getting them built now, so we can just put them in place...Are...Are you fine with someone like her just appearing in Atros like that?”
“Of course not.” Anton sighed. “But there’s not a lot that I can do to stop her. We’ve used all the Earth Mana we can without bringing everything monster within a hundred miles upon us. And I’m sure you don’t want that.”
“No.” Dana gripped her sword tight. “I’ll leave you to your business. Tell me when you’re ready to strike against those things to the south. I’ll be there, no matter what.”
Dana gave a final curt nod and left them. Rasha looked at Cetina. “Is she always like that? I haven’t seen her much but she seems a little...hostile.”
“She’s been through her own hell,” Anton said softly. “Possibly worse than yours.”
“That would be difficult…” Rasha stopped as Verona motioned for her to stoop low. All of the colour drained from Rasha’s face as Verona recounted Dana’s ordeal. She winced as she shook her head. “I didn’t know.”
“Just don’t bring it up,” Anton said softly. “We’ll send a message to Wilford, see if he has any idea.”
“He’s on the way to Frindal,” Kal said. “Maybe he knows someone there?”
“One way to find out.” Anton smiled. “He can’t do much from a ship, but he might just know someone in the Frindal Emirate that deals in such rarities.”
“Something that Ferula couldn’t find?” Verona raised a brow. “What chance do we have?”
“We cannot rely on mysterious witches.” Cetina faintly smiled at Anton’s words. “Especially when we have so many reasons to distrust them. We must stand on our own feet. It’s pretty clear she’s doing all of this for more than just a vague promise to the former king.”
“But what are the normal Strega Witches after anyway?” Cetina grumbled. “What do they want with those stones?”
“Nothing good.” Anton murmured. “Nothing good. Come on. We’ve had enough fun for today. Time for something to eat. Something good, my treat again.”
Despite the intrusion of the Strega Witch it was quickly forgotten the moment food became the topic. Despite that there was unease amongst them, Anton could feel it just by the way they walked. It was hard to push away the uneasy thought that the snow was the only thing saving them from oblivion. More worryingly, they had a new time limit and there was almost nothing they could do to grow faster. Their new weapons would take time, everyone that could be spared for construction effort was already working their hearts out and they simply couldn’t bring or rescue more people. It was like they had reached the limit at which Atros could grow, far faster than any city had the right to, but not fast enough for the threat lurking to the south. For the first time Anton hoped, in vain, that the winter would never end.