Chapter Eighty One

Gunlan Mounsenker Galgandar, Second in Line for Patriarch, held court in his rooms, well serviced and well pleasured by the slaves he had there. News of the monster tide proved excellent, if a bit tiresome as much of the reports surrounded the eccentric, Joe McConnell. He rested in his seat, arranging himself more carefully before directing a pleasure slave to a more agreeable and enjoyable location. His eyes did not leave his man.

“The walls are well staffed and manned?”

“Yes, milord.”

“And the … arrangements.”

“They proceed apace, milord. All fo… all will be ripe for your plans, although I must say that the chances of a multiple…”

“Yes… I know, but you have been paid well for multiple. You will deliver multiple.”

The man hid his discomfort poorly, Gunlan hid his disdain not at all, “If you fail…”

“Yes, milord.”

Gunlan sighed, “Dismissed.” Competency… is it so hard to find?!

Gunlan settled back in his seat to enjoy the ministrations of his pleasure slaves, the business for the day complete but he was interrupted by a knock at the door that indicated urgency. Gunlan raged, teeth clenched.

“What?!?”

“News from the wall, Master.”

“Out with it!”

“A city killer has come!”

Gunlan’s anger evaporated, a satisfied smirk settling on his face even while fear rolled down his body as he stood, cuffing the woman that had been servicing him there. She cried out as she fell back, but he cared little.

“Send the servants in. Pack all my belongings! We must away, immediately!”

His door opened as he cried, his assistant arriving before him quickly even as a horde of servants besieged his room and belongings.

“Continue packing until the giant arrives at the walls! Then we must flee to our safe haven.”

All replied simultaneously, “Yes, master.”

Gunlan left the room and stood before his clothing armoire, arms outspread as servants rushed to his side and prepared him for his escape. The room was a bustle of noise and movement, but he saw and heard little as only bitter anger occupied his thoughts on disrupted plans and the loss of his city. It was needed… that eccentric… He fought to stifle the growl and returned to placidity. He was a noble.

A half great bell later, a messenger ran in reporting the charge of the city killer and he looked around his home. Little was left to be packed, and while the city walls would hold the city killer to some extent, time for escape was invaluable. Nothing of much value was left.

“We flee. Now.”

The servants bustled from the room, loading up the one carriage and wagon he’d called, and in a matter of a bell, his entourage was ready. He settled himself in the center carriage, and they began an orderly retreat from the villa. They’d made it to the wall of the clan compound when another messenger pounded on the door to his carriage.

“What?”

“A message from the wall.”

“Report.”

“The hallowed eccentric killed the city killer.”

Shock struck Gunlan, then relief and fear in equal measure after. Neither the convoy nor Gunlan moved for quite some time. Their return to the villa was subdued, awash in fear, plans, and thoughts of impossible opportunities.

* * *

Joe felt a touch on his shoulder and turned to see Gwenvair standing beside him, Kilniara holding her hand even as the Matriarch stood behind them both. Gwenvair and Kilniara smiled up at him.

“Let’s go home. You must be exhausted, and the shift is done at this time in any case. Rest.”

Joe’s shoulders collapsed even as relief over took him. He turned to look at the Matriarch.

“Will the wall be alright without me? I am quite exhausted.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

She laughed, high notes of clear crystal as she nodded, “You deserve at least this much.”

Joe laughed himself, “But I am able to hold if the rotation will fall without me.”

She shook her head, “We have enough reinforcements to hold your place and mine. May I join you at your home for a meal?”

Joe nodded, “That sounds… nice, actually.”

“May I bring a guest?”

Joe cocked his head, seemingly surprised, “I wouldn’t disagree…”

The Matriarch bowed her head, “I know your joy of discussion. I believe I know one who could engage you to your enjoyment.”

Joe smiled at that, “A discussion. That does sound… nice, although I truly do not think I could do so for long.”

She smiled, “I fear I could not do so at all, if I were to accomplish what you have.”

Joe shook his head, “It is nothing more than my responsibility, if I can. And I could. But a rest would be… delightful. I could really use it.”

The Matriarch nodded and asked cautiously, “Then, if I may?”

Joe nodded, confused by what she was asking, but willing to allow whatever it was. She nodded back and then waved to an older woman to the side who began a dancing singing movement. It was quick and quickly done. Joe recognized the movements, his eyebrows crushing inwards as he tried to remember. Oh! Looks like Gwenvair’s wind dance thing… And his recognition and assumption seemed to be proved moments later when a powerful wind picked them up easily, although the wind felt more like a solid floor and railing. It swirled around them and sent them skittering across the ground before rising up the wall and blasting up over the top. The wind platform arced through the air before beginning to fall again and coming to a rapid meeting with the earth directly in front of his villa. The ride came to an end with a comfortable, if hair raising deceleration that had them arrive right at the door to the villa they stayed at.

“Well, that was exciting!”

“You enjoyed it?” the Matriarch looked at him.

Joe smiled, “Hmm… it was exciting!”

The Matriarch smiled softly, and soon all were inside the villa. The Matriarch waved away the wind mage who’d carried them before turning to Joe. Joe bowed respectfully back to her.

“I am in sore need of a bath. Shall we eat after bathing?”

The Matriarch quirked an eyebrow in surprise, even as Gwenvair blushed a brilliant red, “Are you inviting me?”

Joe felt himself flush a deep red, his heart hiccupping. Well… that was not… my plan… uh…

His mouth moved faster than thought, “In a bath of your own, far from my own bath, preferably with many walls between our baths… possibly even entire villas and fields.”

The Matriarch smiled as Joe spoke, then chuckled softly, “Well said.”

Joe bowed, “I apologize for any unintended offense. I simply desire to be clean.”

She smiled and bowed in response, “After a bath then. We will eat here at your villa.”

Joe nodded, “I look forward to it.”

The Matriarch turned away, taking the two girls with her, but deeper into the villa he was using, “We shall bathe in the shadowed hall. It will be warm enough for our needs.”

The shadowed hall? Are there multiple baths? I didn’t see any before… but…

“OK.”

Garnedell came up beside him, “Could we bathe today as well? I know we have not fought, but… it’s actually … it feels good.”

Joe quirked an eyebrow before smiling and nodding, “Coming to enjoy a good bath, are you?”

Garnedell nodded.

“Sure, why not. The thing is more of a swimming pool than a bath. You coming, too, Zilnek?”

Zilnek replied almost as enthusiastically as Garnedell and all three headed to the bath near Joe’s room. Joe dropped by his bedroom to retrieve a set of clothing first before heading to the bathing room and dropping his dirty clothes he wore today. He then sat on a stool at the side of the bath and took the time to clean his weapons. His bow needed very little upkeep, but having used his war hammer and long sword today, he wanted to clean them well, especially the long sword and sheath as he had sheathed his sword while running towards the giant. It was frustrating, but he knew its importance and spent a good chunk of time cleaning both well before setting them aside and turning to his bath. Cleaning the spear is so easy… especially when I just don’t use the sheath!

Joe sighed as he sank into the hot water, joining the two boys there. They’d jumped in even before Joe arrived. When he came in, they invited him in excitedly, but Joe explained his need to clean the weapons, so they relaxed in the warm water while chatting together and with him.

Despite the time taken cleaning, the water was still as warm as when he’d arrived, although Joe didn’t understand the mechanics of it. He was only grateful to be able to get a bath as warm as it had been almost thirty minutes ago. The boys had already bathed, but took the extra time Joe gave them to enjoy the bath longer until he’d cleaned himself. Joe washed quickly then took about ten minutes to just relax in the bath before standing to leave. When he did so, Garnedell and Zilnek rose as well, all three clothing themselves to head out to dinner. They proved to have come out too early, dinner was unprepared and no one else was ready to eat, so Joe settled in the living room, the two boys joining him. The three interacted a bit but the two boys mostly jabbered excitedly about Joe’s fight with the giant and reenacting it with exaggerated full body replays.

Joe took a few times to answer questions when they had them, but they seemed to prefer to revel in their own memories rather than seeking out any information from Joe. Another few minutes later, Kilniara and Gwenvair came out with the exact same energy as the two boys, albeit less physical. The four chattered, bouncing between each other and multiple conversations, but almost all of it surrounding Joe’s triumph over the giant. The girls proved a bit more interested in his deeds so Joe spent most of his time speaking with them. Shortly after, Gwenvair’s mother joined them and the conversation turned once again.

“Eccentric, could I …”

“Please. I said this before. Joe is fine.”

Gwenvair’s mother smiled softly, “Joe. Could I ask of your battle with the city killer?”

Joe nodded, “Of course. What would you like to know.”

She breathed deeply, “You are the first I know of who has killed a city killer. Their HP is too… incredible.”

Joe nodded, “It truly was amazing! I was starting to get worried towards the end.”

The Matriarch blinked in some surprise, “You did not know if you could kill it?”

Joe waffled a bit, bouncing his head side to side as he considered his reply, “I knew it could be killed. I just did not know if I could do so alone… or… if there were other issues? One cannot know until it is tried.”

“Then… your strength overwhelmed its HP?”

Joe shook his head, “No. I’m certain if my strength grew enough, it might be possible. I simply removed its flesh until it ran out of HP.”

“But… how?” Gwenvair’s asked with true confusion and curiosity.

Joe nodded, “HP drops fastest if you remove flesh from the body of the person. HP will be used to rejuvenate the flesh. If you allow the flesh to remain, it will reconnect to the body and take much less HP. Here… let me show you.”

Joe flipped open his status and showed it to everyone, “Here is my HP. You can see it. Please watch this digit here.”

Joe took a dagger and held it up, “I’ll poke myself with a blade. You will see that I will lose only a digit or two.”