As all eyes turned to him, Duke spoke over his shoulder, “Please step back into the Inn. The small fights are over, and I need to be sure you’re out of the field of fire.”
Aurelia caught a brief glance at the scene before stepping back into the Inn whispering, “You had better come back to me.” Once inside, she called out to Travis, “Is there any way I can see what’s going on outside?”
Travis smiled. “Of course there is since it’s just us in here.” The walls of the Inn become transparent, allowing her to see all around the Inn. She couldn’t hear anything outside, but she saw Duke ensure the door to the Inn was closed before confidently striding away from the Inn and begin speaking.
Duke had taken several steps outside the Inn and his XENOGLOSSIA was providing him with volumes of information from the body language of those surrounding him. They all wanted to be the one to get the kill and the prize, but they were equally concerned about being caught in the crossfire or having to face each other. It was a standoff that Duke was happy to take advantage of.
“You all came here for little old me? How sweet of you. But the way you are all set up, it’s a virtual guarantee that you are going to hit each other with stray shots. Maybe we should relocate to another spot where you can set up a bit smarter?”
His words broke the stalemate as he had expected. Fingers tensed on triggers, Spells were cast, Abilities activated, arrows loosed, and bruisers charged forward. Duke watched as the destruction washed over the area. He was a kilometer above the fray as he had TELEPORTED when it all began. Even still, several attacks had hit him as he departed, and his REGENERATION was hard at work repairing the damage.
As he watched the Inn absorb hit after hit and, as he expected, remain immutable. His Intuition was working overtime as he identified all who had attacked and the few who had not. He quickly added the attackers to a mental list – they would be the targets of his response.
The dust and smoke slowly cleared in the dry desert air, revealing not a single individual below impacted by “friendly fire”. That struck Duke as interesting as he unleashed his own attack – a one million Mana UMBRAL REAPER targeting each attacker. The entire area below him turned to the midnight terror of his Ability. Claws and fangs burst forth from shadows and tore through flesh. Horrified screams echoed through the darkness for a full minute before the darkness receded back into shadow.
There were still a dozen hunters that had not attacked Duke and had been excluded from the Ability. They stared at him as he gently descended towards the ground, shadows swimming in his eye sockets and the Ability fully resolved itself. He addressed the gathered crowd. “I know you came for me for your own reasons. Perhaps because the prize offered was beyond tempting. Or perhaps because you enjoy a good fight. But you had the wisdom to not attack me immediately and for that reason you still live. Now make a decision. Leave with your lives or end up like the withered corpses around you!”
There was a cacophony as several ships’ engines whined to life as their owners chose the first option. Duke waited as the ships departed, keeping his COMBAT SENSE and DUNGEON SENSE actively watching for anyone attempting to turn and attack him. He was pleasantly surprised as those who left did so without conflict.
He then found himself with half a dozen beings waiting for him. “So, you want to fight?” Duke prepared himself.
“I certainly don’t. I’m not sure about everyone else here, but I would like to talk.” The speaker was what Duke’s brain immediately classified as a “space elf” by the pointed ears and thin features. There were nods and words of agreement from the rest of the individuals still standing there, including a pair of bipedal draconic beings.
Duke landed and started walking towards the Inn’s door. He glanced over his shoulder and offered a few words before opening the door. “Anyone who wants to talk is welcome to come join me for a drink in the Inn. But anyone who brings violence inside my Inn will not live to regret it. I will tear your soul from your body and consume it in hellfire. And if I’m in a particularly bad mood, I will send the hellfire back through your entire bloodline. I hope I made myself clear.” He stepped through the door.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Aurelia was waiting for him and intercepted him with a hug and a kiss. “I’m glad you are OK, love. That was terrifying to watch. Why did you spare some of them and what did you say to them at the end there?”
Duke pulled her in closer for a deep kiss before carrying her to his favorite table. “Those are the ones that didn’t attack. I gave them the chance to just go away and leave me alone. The rest apparently want to talk. I told them to come in, but no violence would be tolerated.”
Travis offered Duke a wicked grin. “I’ll make sure things stay civil.” His grin deepened disturbingly as the door to the Inn opened. They all looked up to see the pair of dragonian beings enter. The fact that the doorway had to expand to let them in gave Duke the sudden perspective in just how large they were that he had not gotten outside. The pair approached the table.
“You are the Duke, yes?” The larger of the two asked, the horns on his head nearly scraping the rafters.
Duke winced inwardly but decided to avoid the wordplay in what could be a significant conversation. “I am Duke. If you have come to talk, please join us at the table.”
The dragonian looked down at the table and the chairs that could possibly fit one of his feet. Travis intervened with a chuckle. “Go ahead and take a seat. It will resize for you.”
The smaller dragonian, who was still larger than Duke grabbed a chair and pulled it over to her to sit down, smiling as the table, chair, and floor all resized to fit her comfortably. Her partner followed suit with a surprised look on his face. To everyone but Duke, or another dragonian, the look appeared fierce and aggressive. Duke’s XENOGLOSSIA read the comical surprise on the dragonian’s features, causing Duke’s mood to lighten slightly.
The smaller dragonian spoke up after the pair were settled. “Greetings. I am Drakmalorie and this is my mate, Arkmathus. We have been watching you for a short while and have decided that we have been deceived.”
“Deceived? By me?”
“No, not by you, but by the unnamed party that placed such a contract on you.”
“Oh, yes, them. Yeah, they kinda screwed all of you who came for me. I’m sure they will update the contract when they realize how much they underestimated me.”
“They cannot. The contract cannot be amended, changed, or replaced until the standard thousand-cosmic-year term has expired.”
“That’s good news and damned funny. They must be hopping mad at this point. So, what is it you would like to discuss.”
The dragonians exchanged a glance before Drakmalorie continued. “As I said, we have observed you and have decided not to pursue the contract. Instead, we would know what cause you serve.”
“What cause I serve? That is an interesting question. I am the king of a small but growing nation here on Teldin. I do, however, have aspirations far beyond this place but those are not a matter for a discussion with people I have only just met.”
“There is wisdom in caution. But I must ask, do you serve a greater master?”
“He does not serve a greater master, but IS sponsored by one.” The Overmind’s avatar had appeared in the seat next to Duke. The reaction was immediate and took Duke by surprise. The chairs the dragonians had been sitting in slammed into the far wall, shattering to flinders. The pair prostrated themselves, their faces slammed to the floor. Duke almost didn’t notice Aurelia passing out next to him in the commotion. He retrieved a pillow from his INVENTORY and placed it under her head before returning his attention to the full scene before him.
Duke looked over to the Overmind, confusion washing over his face. The avatar smiled in response. “Yes, Duke, that is the typical reaction. Now, you two get back in your seats. I am merely here to make sure that Duke fully understands what is going on since his education of the wider cosmos has been sorely lacking.”
Slowly and carefully, the pair of dragonians took the seats that had reformed for them, their gazes firmly fixed downward at the table. The Overmind spoke up again, “You have permission to meet my gaze and act normally while we are in this setting.”
“Thank you, great one.” The dragonians settled back into their seats but still were reluctant to meet the gaze of the Overmind.
Duke decided to get things going again. “So, you see, I am my own person, but I do have a sponsor. What is it you wanted to ask of me. I can tell that you are free to speak here. No one beyond this room can hear what you have to say.”
Drakmalorie started again. “We would like to join you in your endeavors on this world and raise a family here.”
Duke looked over to the Overmind who gave him absolutely no indication either way. He continued, forging his own path. “Before I could agree to that, I would know you both much better. Please tell me your story and why raising your family here is important to you.”