I wake up confused and with a very incoherent memory of the previous day. Tsek is asleep at his post but the two prisoners are securely tied up. I open and close both my hands, the right one is slow and painful to move.
At least I'm in possession of my mental means. To a point... Right, as much as I can be considering how stupid it was to take so few precautions before agreeing to get healed.
I walk outside and take all the flow I infused in the barrel to supply the healing construct in my forearm, adding what I regenerated during the night to it. I used so much energy that, if I squint my eyes and look at my forearm from a certain angle, I can vaguely see a black-gold aura around it.
It remains to be seen whether the old midwife is competent but so far it seems that she is since I'm already feeling much better. I suppose I could have done what she did myself but I would have been a lot messier about removing the stuff.
I doubt I even would have done so myself since I didn't know bone would grow back. I'm sure that there exists a better way to treat what I did but this will do, it's not like I could look around.
I get back inside and grab my hammer. The vivid memory of impaling Leomi with it is one of the few I retain, and it was still broken then. I inspect it. My repair seems to have worked.
I deposit the hammerhead on the floor and start applying downward pressure on it with my foot while pulling with my left arm. The Vuskyt handle starts slowly bending exactly where it was cut by the Exemplar.
Alright, so that's not good. I sigh. I wanted to leave the hammer close to the institute but that's a bust. Maybe I can get it reforged, the weapon is useless now but the Vuskyt isn't.
While I wait for the other three to wake up, I break the hammerhead off to train with the handle because it's bent slightly and that makes it impossible to control. I start testing the feel of it. Swords are quick but they don't have enough reach. I've experienced first hand how much that matters to create space when I'm outnumbered.
Vikiana wakes first and I silently untie her to avoid disturbing the other two, I bring her outside to ask her a few questions about my use of the hammer. She throws me a weird look like she expected me to say something else.
“The thing you have to know with any weapon is that there is a momentum to a swing, and that works double for unbalanced weapons like hammers. You need to learn to use that to accelerate, stop, or change direction. Swords are a lot lighter and, as such, less restrictive.” She explains.
“But I need reach and swords are too short.” I tell her.
“That's about habits, comfort, and combat style, I suppose.” Vikiana ponders. “I personally don't feel like I lack reach, but I've learned to be more mobile in a fight than you.”
“That's the thing, I don't need to be mobile. I overpower those who face me head on, which is harder and riskier with a sword because the short length of the blade means I have to go in and that leaves me vulnerable from behind because it allows the rest of my attackers to close in. I can't even be mobile half the time when I'm outnumbered, there aren't enough openings.” I tell her.
“You could try a double-bladed staff, it's a Lisilese weapon. Skilled users can defend with minimal movements, it's one of the few two-handed weapons that are balanced and allow to adjust your reach depending on the situation. Best of both worlds I think.” She tells me. “It's hard to learn how to effectively wield it, although it would be easier for you thanks to your ability to precisely detect your surroundings. But you won't find one in the institute.”
“I actually have an idea about that.” I smile. “By the way, thanks for yesterday. I don't remember much but I do know you could have taken advantage.”
“I'm more convinced than ever that the institute needs to be taken down.” She replies firmly.
I change the subject back to training and our conversation goes into details about joints which turn out to be a lot more theory than I can absorb so Vikiana illustrates her points through demonstration.
The morning goes by rather uneventfully, Tsek spends it glaring at a gagged Aisha who actually looks somewhat ashamed. Her expression matches that of her illusion construct but I wouldn't trust either of her faces. Tsek and I eat together.
“I'm going to need to go out quite a bit during this month.” I tell him. “And I'll have to leave you alone with the two of them.”
“I can handle it.” He affirms. “I know I messed up but it won't happen again, I'm not usually like... that.” He blushes slightly.
“I'm the last person who'll shame you about sex, Tsek.” I directly tell him. “But I do need to know if the reason you're here is that you want to sleep with me.”
“It would be a lie if I said it wasn't some of my motivation but I knew you liked women. You and the Countess are probably the most famous couple in Caeviel right now.” He says, looking away. “As a kid, I saw Nobles and soldiers with envy. It wasn't about wealth but power. Not just in body but also in mind. I hid almost my entire life because I didn't think I had it in me to be like that. It didn't help, in the end I got caught, I couldn't do a thing. I decided to change right there and then but, laughably, after six months of rowing with no hope in sight, even that resolve was ground down. Then you showed up and I saw it as my opportunity to be something else than a useless short scrawny kid.”
“You're not that short.” I reply automatically. “After all, I'm not and we're about the same size.”
“Right.” He smiles a little.
“I'll trust you to take care of things this afternoon, I'll be back after nightfall.” I tell him.
After our meal, I check that the constructs I'm leaving him are still coherent and take our prisoner's flow reserves. I leave for the marketplace and easily find a few general stores that sell barrels of water. I then rent a small cart to transport them, using a rope to compensate for my right arm.
I spend the afternoon moving barrels to the building near the institute hiding them in the rubble. I make use of my symbiont's sense to ensure that no one is watching when I enter the run-down structure.
Once I have fifteen barrels in this building, and another five in another close-by, I'll be able to simply walk by them to transfer my flow over. As predicted, I return by nightfall.
I'm relieved to detect that Tsek is taking his duty seriously, the two prisoners are tied up and he is watching them like a hawk with sword in hand. I walk into the bedroom, smelling that indeed, Aisha needed to go to the bathroom yesterday. There is a stain in the front of her pants.
“Well, you made a mess.” I tease.
“Hmpf.” Aisha grunts angrily.
“I didn't want to take the risk while you were gone.” Tsek says apologetically.
“It's her own fault.” I tell him.
“Mhm.” Aisha sighs.
I untie her and take a change of clothes for her, I then grab a bucket of water and bring her to the back of the house. I remove her shackles and turn my back on her to let her change. She actually does the same, turning around to undress.
She gets cleaned up, which I find somewhat arousing but I'm in better control of myself now. Besides, I'm only observing her through my other sense so the lack of visual contact helps a lot, but not so much that I can relax.
I notice that her most intimate place isn't cute like my Lady's, her outer lips are fuller, she is young but her body is that of a fully grown woman. Sexy. I have to resist the pull to turn around as she uses a piece of cloth to clean up.
“You can take the gag off if you'll behave.” I tell her once she's dressed up. She does so.
“That was stupid of me.” She says.
“It was.” I agree.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
“It won't happen again.” Aisha adds.
“It might, once.” I reply, kind of breaking my word about not threatening her again.
“I really don't know what I was thinking.” She makes a grimace.
“You said you could deal with the institute's defenses, correct?” I ask, changing the subject.
“With preparation.” She tells. “I could do so from the inside, but that would take me time, and you'd have to wait in a cell. The other option is to let me get the schematics from someone, Meiridin's Shade already has them and he's keeping a close eye on the institute.”
“Do you know where they are? Would we be able to steal them without his notice?” I ask.
“I do but he will know if I take them. Still, he should have received the same orders as I have so he will cooperate if I explain.” Aisha affirms.
“Which you won't be doing.” I note.
“You're the boss.” She agrees. “It would be possible to inspect the outside defenses and find weaknesses, I have the training to do so but it won't help us against the runic constructs they have inside.”
“Then we'll steal the schematics the just before we assault the institute, it won't matter whether he knows or not then.” I decide.
It'll be the final test for her, whether she lives or dies will depend on what she does with those constructs once we're alone inside the institute. If I correctly set up my plan, she'll be unable to challenge me, if not then I'll find another way to free Cetyz.
I then spend the night training with Vikiana until Tsek wakes up and I then go to sleep.
--- --- ---
I wake up feeling no pain in my forearm. It isn't healed but well underway so I tell my limb to focus on healing, to stop injecting me with the cool substance which I now realize is a good tool for combat but messes with my emotions and consequently my focus.
Once it clears out of my system, I start feeling pain radiating out from the forearm, and some from my elbow. Still, I'm healing fast thanks to the fifty portions of flow I powered the healing construct with, it'll all be consumed in about forty-eight hours.
I decide to spend this day training with Tsek to reinforce our bond and test whether or not he is truly dedicated to getting stronger, not trying to get in my briefs.
Contrary to the first time we sparred, the sword blows we exchange feel awkward, our movements around each other even more so. The specter of what happened the other day is making it difficult for us both to concentrate.
After all, he masturbated while thinking of me, and on my request no less, so it can't be easy for him to exert himself physically while in close proximity to me. For me, that same thing is making it hard to shake the wrongness I feel. The fact that I couldn't reign my curiosity in and observed is making it worse.
“We should probably clear the air.” I note.
“What's there to say?” Tsek asks, looking flustered. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked what I did.”
“It bothered me, I'm not going to lie.” I admit. His eyes turn down in guilt. “But you're free to think whatever you want as long as you don't bring it up if I don't ask.”
“You sure?” Tsek questions, disbelieving.
“Honestly, no.” A small laugh escapes me. “Look, I just want to get all of this done and if you want to fantasize about me... I'll take it as flattering. Still, I think you should look for someone else.”
“The priority is to get this done, Elizabeth.” Tsek agrees with determination.
“Then let's get you up to snuff, just in case it all goes to shit.” I grin.
I don't learn anything groundbreaking or really new as we spar, but I do identify some of my bad habits and solidify my own basics while teaching him what I know. It isn't all smooth sailing as combat is messy and sometimes we run into each other.
Either as a tactical choice to mess with the other's stance or just bad footwork. Once or twice, I suspect that he does so on purpose but I don't call him on it because he is a beginner and it's likely paranoia on my part. Neither do I bring up the fact that he's fully erect despite how obvious it is.
We take a break at lunch and Tsek disappears through the back door to masturbate. I wish I could avoid sensing him as he does but unfortunately, I need to constantly be focused on my symbiont's sense to ensure that our prisoners are behaving.
His lips move as he stimulates himself, forming a word that I can't help but recognize as my alter-ego's name, 'Elizabeth'. I set a pot of water on the stove and wonder if I should do the same when I get the chance, I want to but it's far less pressing than when under the cool substance's influence.
Besides, I think I fight with more enthusiasm and a more intense desire for life when I'm pent up. Tsek walks back in, I can see a small stain on his shirt. He quickly goes out to change.
It might have been necessary to tell him to get himself off so that it wouldn't be so easy for Aisha to push that angle, but that backfired on me because now he's apparently freed and just going at it.
I leave the cooking to him, pondering the fact that the sparring session really didn't answer my question. I still don't know if he's trying to get stronger for himself or for his dick, it might just be both, humans don't have singular motivations after all.
I surely haven't acted with single goals in mind. Hm. The Emperor surely wouldn't either. Perhaps the reason he seeks more flow isn't entirely altruistic, He might be influenced by the desire to hold more personal power that doesn't depend on others, access to flow that truly belongs to Him.
It's quite unlikely though, He is blessed by the Lake after all so his access must be greater than anyone else's. Either way, the sparring session brought me and Tsek closer. At the very least, I'm now relatively certain he won't turn on me even if Aisha seduces him.
I seek out and find the letter we're to send the institute, Tsek finalized it and left it in the leather case. It looks good, although I wonder where he learned to write so well. When I ask, he tells me that the Temple in Port-Odo offered lessons.
It is apparently standard practice for the Order to do so, the Templar assigned to our village never did as far as I know. There are bad apples in every barrel I suppose. After our meal, we resume sparring.
This time Tsek's movements are a lot more coordinated but he isn't as aggressive as he was in the morning. It makes him a less dangerous a fighter but I'm not going to complain, I don't miss feeling his boner poking at my thigh or belly every time the battle got a little intense.
As usual, he goes to sleep first. During the night, I struggle to stay awake so I occupy myself by inspecting my hammer's two pieces, I feel sad that I couldn't repair it as it got me through so many battles.
I wonder if it'll be worth it to get a blacksmith to help me reforge it, perhaps into a different weapon. It would be worth it if I can get it inside the institute and use it. It's too risky and almost impossible to sneak it in, but I can take advantage of another portion of my plan to get it in the building.
Defensive constructs can be altered to fit the threat as I've learned so it is likely that, when I attack the institute with the flow I've stockpiled, they'll tailor their defense to the construct aimed at the building.
Which means that the building's resistance to physical attacks will be weakened because they'll be short on flow and will want to concentrate on countering the lightning construct battering their institute.
I planned to use air-blades to take advantage of that and I could propel a weapon inside with one of those constructs if I include an armor-piercing construct to the weapon so that it pierces through the wall, targeted at myself. Hm, let's do that, it's crazy enough to work.
I'll have to spend tomorrow morning's flow to find the leyline connecting the institute to his palace. I really hope my deduction isn't wrong but it should be, the Templars wouldn't supply King Cenwalh with the Due and I doubt he would want a leyline from their Temple to his institute.
--- --- ---
I awaken when Tsek shakes me. Shit. I fell asleep on shift. I hurriedly use my sense to check on our prisoners. They're awake but still there. Luckily, I took the habit to keep tabs on them out of their sight so they likely didn't even realize I wasn't watching anymore.
“My bad.” I tell Tsek.
“You're recovering and you've had a pretty intense few days.” He waves my apology aside.
“Do you mind if I leave all day? I have a few things I need to do.” I ask.
“Go ahead, I need to train the lion strike anyway.” Tsek replies.
I take a quill from the leather case and redraw some of the rag map's smudged lines. I head out towards the Palace, using the map to determine where the leyline would be. I take the two hammer pieces along in a sack, I might have time to seek a blacksmith out.
Hopefully, it won't be too deep for me to detect, and I'm quite certain I can do that because the Rykz lived underground so their ability to sense their surroundings had to be of use to them beneath the earth.
I go through the streets, seeking out signs and unsurprisingly find none. I search for a sewer entrance but don't find any in on the line between the Palace and the institute which is encouraging.
I then start probing the ground with my symbiont's sense, sitting down on the ground when I'm alone to place my left hand on the pavement and try to detect whether there is a tunnel underneath.
I keep searching the area but can't get very close to the Palace because of the soldier patrols. As I don't find anything, I start considering that they might be transferring flow over in barrels. That would be a problem but not an unsolvable one. I would need to sneak a construct into one of their shipments.
I don't give up yet. My perseverance is rewarded when, towards the end of the morning, I sit down cross-legged in the middle of a small alley crossing and detect something underground. It's the upper arc of a tunnel as far as I can tell.
I lay flat on the ground and send a wave of my flow down. I let the energy slowly sink through the ground. Most of it keeps going down even when it goes past the tunnel but a small portion finds something and is pulled away by a current.
I immediately pull my flow back before it leaves my range and mark the spot on my rag map.