With the last of the gaunts hunted down and the Void’s foothold annihilated, Lanek began the trek back to Caelis. However, on his ride back to the city, he resolved to come this way in the near future to explore Laethon now that the threats on the road had essentially been eliminated. While the gaunts would most likely return and easily overwhelm the area without the shifters to keep them in check, he wasn’t concerned by the strength of the regular gaunts that made up the majority of the roving bands.
Lanek had to fight with himself about going to Laethon before returning to Caelis, but he could recognize when he was putting off a difficult confrontation. He still felt angry about his treatment at the hands of his former companions, he had still reacted rather poorly and most likely owed them an apology. That being said, he would be damned if he would allow anyone to bind and disarm him. At this point, that was a line that he was absolutely not willing to compromise on. Again, he had to wonder if it was paranoia or something to do with his stronger ties to a Primordial.
The ride back to Caelis went by quickly, his companions ever alert while Lanek focused on the upcoming reunion. He was tempted to simply enter via the east gate and get a look at the dungeon, but was still a bit wary of the myrmidons and the possible appearance of even stronger creatures from the depths. So, with an irritated sigh at the inconvenience, he rode all the way around to the southern gate before entering the city.
About an hour after entering the city, Kazuma drew his attention to the west. Specifically, the cat drew his attention to a group of individuals shadowing his movements, but keeping their distance. Lanek asked Maximilian to turn toward this group as he readied his spear. He figured it would be better to be safe than sorry as he couldn’t tell from this distance if the group was from the monastery or not. While he watched them, Lanek silently asked Sanguineus to watch their backs while the rest of the party focused on the group, which had also come to a stop and were simply watching him in turn.
After a few minutes staring at one another, a handful of figures separated from the group and approached. Lanek made no move to attack or ride out to meet them, content to let them come to him. As they got closer, he finally recognized the four figures as a few of his former companions, Talwarg, Nerek, Khurzag, and Shel.
“Hello, Talwarg. Mind telling Khurzag and Shel to stay right there next to you until we’ve had a chance to talk?” Lanek called out, never looking away from Talwarg. Meanwhile, Khurzag and Shel froze for a moment before continuing to circle around to each of his flanks.
“Stop, you two. Get your asses back here. We’re here to talk, not piss him off again.” Talwarg yelled out at the two orcs. Grumbling, the two returned to Talwarg’s side, with Shel staring daggers at the hobgoblin. “Better?”
“Much. So, I’m guessing you were waiting for me to show up? How did you know I would be coming this way?”
“The Hordefather informed me that you were on your way back to the city.” Nerek called out. “Lanek, why can’t I see any of your status information anymore?”
“I don’t know. Maybe ask the Hordefather to check in with Eldros. A lot has happened. You going to demand that I disarm and let you treat me like a prisoner?”
“No, although there is still talk from certain people about doing just that.” Talwarg said, looking uncomfortable.
“Let me guess, a certain extremely unpleasant and self-important shaman?”
Shel snarled in response. “Why shouldn’t we secure you until we can trust you? What’s wrong with keeping our people and our home safe from potential danger?”
Lanek stared at her incredulously before erupting in laughter. “Our home? Damn, you sure are comfortable claiming MY home as your own and claiming that I’M a danger to it. I’m starting to think that your old clan knew damn well that you were leaving and were relieved to be rid of you. I’m disappointed in your teaching style, Nerek. She hasn’t learned a thing since coming to the monastery, has she?”
With a hiss, Shel began to raise her staff, but Lanek swiftly cut her off. “You better make sure that its a damn good spell, because if it doesn’t incapacitate me, you are not going to get another one off. Ever. You won’t be able to stop me either, Khurzag, so you can aim that fucking spear somewhere else.”
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“Don’t underestimate me, whatever you are. I can handle the likes of you.” Shel said through gritted teeth.
“You aren’t anywhere near as powerful as you think you are, child.” Nerek said, cuffing Shel on the back of her head while scattering her gathered mana. “I can’t see his status or tell if that is Lanek or not, but I can tell that whoever or whatever he is would have no issues butchering all four of us where we stand.”
Talwarg’s head snapped to Nerek. “What? How can you be so sure?”
“Because the Hordefather has been warning me to proceed with caution ever since this conversation started. When, in our stories and history, has the Hordefather ever advocated caution?” Nerek responded. “Lanek, I have a compromise from the Hordefather. Allow him in. He has been trying to contact you for days. If you do that, the Hordefather can verify your identity, which is what should have happened during your initial trip to the monastery.”
“I will speak with him, but not here and not with your party this close. I trust you, but not her. Return to your group and I will leave to find someplace private and secure to contact the Hordefather. We can meet back up at the monastery once I’m done. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” Talwarg responded. “I look forward to the good news.”
“As do I. And, for what it’s worth, I didn’t want this to be such an antagonistic meeting, but I can’t allow myself to be made prisoner by anyone. I don’t know why, but I see no reason to argue with the feeling. Please pass on my apologies to Liv and Ograch as well.”
“I understand. For the record, Ograch and Liv will want to apologize to you as well once your identify is verified. They tried to hide it, but they were beside themselves once they found out your tree was gone and that you might actually be who you claim to be.” Talwarg said, before ushering the two orcs ahead of him, not wanting Shel to make matters worse once more. Although, she seemed rather shaken by Nerek’s revelation that the Hordefather had been pushing so hard for them to be cautious.
Lanek glanced at Kazuma, who nodded and began absolutely flooding the area in fog, spreading it out to its absolute limits. Thanks to the light breeze that was blowing through Caelis, the fog was spreading beyond the cat’s normal range, which allowed Lanek to swiftly disappear from the area and head off without Talwarg’s group spotting which way he was going.
He didn’t have anywhere in particular that he wanted to go, but he figured that heading east would make sure that he wasn’t followed. For one, he could stay in the tower cellar where he had encountered Liv long enough to speak to the Hordefather. It should be much safer now that the spiders were gone. Even if there were enough spiders for another nest to form, it would be a very long time before another matriarch showed itself.
Once he reached the tower, he quickly descended and asked his companions to gather at the foot of the stairs to keep watch. He settled down and lifted his mental defenses, prepared to snap them back into place at a moment’s notice. However, the only thing he felt was a simple connection, almost like a confident knock on the door to his mind.
He accepted the connection and found himself sitting across from the Hordefather in very familiar surroundings. As before, they sat near a fire in the middle of the steppes.
“You know, I’m not accustomed to having mortals block me out, much less ones I’ve gifted a title to.” The demigod rumbled.
“I would imagine not. But, you have to admit that I had every reason to be suspicious of anything reaching out to my mind after all that’s happened. Still, you have my apologies.”
“Accepted, although I would not be so forgiving if the Void hadn’t been involved.”
“Thank you. So it doesn’t happen again, is there some way I can tell your attempts to speak to me from others? I can’t differentiate you from Harad, Invidros, or the Void when one of your reaches out to me. The only one that I know for certain is Eldros as he can speak to me without whisking my consciousness away.”
“Is that so? That is easily fixed. Speak to Nerek once you return and ask for a totem with my symbol that you can wear. When I contact you, the totem will vibrate to let you know that it is me. The same can be done for Harad, but you will need to find one of his priest’s to make it.” Lanek nodded and agreed. “Good. Now, I need to see your status screen but I am no longer able to see anything that would let me verify your identity. I suspect that I know the cause, but I would need to speak to Eldros about it. Can you call out to him?”
“I can try, but I must warn you, he is not well. He is falling into stupors quite frequently and I don’t know if he will be able to answer.”
“Bloody hells, I suspected that the Primordials were weakening, but I did not think they had reached this point yet.”
“I don’t know if it is all of them, but Eldros believes that Invidros is in the same condition.”
“Then we must hurry and help them, this world cannot afford to lose them. Call out to him, I will put my will behind your request, that should help awaken him if he has gone into one of those ‘stupors’.”
With a nod, Lanek concentrated. Boss, are you there? Can you speak to the Hordefather?
I am here. It’s been a long time, Wurgoth.