Chapter 14
August 6, 780 FF
Hydrozeno was in his tent. He was stuffing gear, equipment and most importantly, food into his oversized traveling pack while Kiln was laying on the bed and watching in amusement while Octavia paraded back and forth, her booming voice howling at Hydrozeno.
“By the Thirteen of the Divine Creator, this is one of the most bone headed ideas I have ever heard and just so you know that’s saying something. Plenty of my own folk are stubborn and bull headed AND I have headed this company for almost thirty years. The two of you arrogant, pointy eared fools are heading out alone to fight a monster that by yer own accounts nearly destroyed an entire garrison of trained soldiers. Tis one of the most ludicrous things I’ve seen you do.”
Hydrozeno kept packing only half listening to the female dwarf. She had come barging into the tent about ten minutes ago, straight from the triumph of the battlefield, when she had heard the rumors flying around the camp. The leader of Hydra Squad was preparing to leave. Once she had heard the specifics as to why it had been too much.
Apparently, the dwarven commander was objecting to losing one of her most prominent and well known front line fighters to pursue what she thought was a wild goose chase. At first she had tried to keep her distress in check, but as she realized that Hydrozeno was already packing. The normally calm and precise leader of the company was working herself into a full on rant and small hints of her dwarven accent were beginning to slip through.
“Tis the act of a bunch of dawdling children. Luck was the only thing that let ya survive the last encounter if the story ya about this, this monstrosity is true. Now yer going haring off into random tunnels just the two of ya without a clue as to what yer doing. Tis truly a daft plan worthy of all the foolishness of the pointy ears. If ya had a century or two of experience it would still be stupid as a bush to go blundering off to slay monsters on yer own, particularly one that killed so many and almost killed ya both.”
Hydrozeno finished packing all of his equipment except one last thing. He reached under his bunk and pulled it out. The object was long and covered in familiar thick blue and white furred wrappings. Hydrozeno reverently placed it on the bunk and began to untie the wrappings, revealing the gleaming blade of the rapier. The steel gave off a chilling mist, the last remnants of Icepaw’s unused magic still flowing through the metal. Hydrozeno gazed at the blade of his best friend, angry tears welling up in his eyes. He turned to glare at Octavia who had fallen silent when he had revealed the rapier. She and Kiln both wore somber expressions.
“One of those things killed my best friend. He died protecting me from it. I am going after this one. It might know why the other one attacked and if not then I will still be able to kill this one. You will not stop me from doing that.”
Octavia sighed.
“I thought that way once when I was young. Two twenty year stints on the warfront of Minz and the Fairmont Imperium and another thirty here as a mercenary have taught me that simply cutting your way through everything is not the solution. It just gets other people killed. I have lost countless friends and comrades to recklessness in my century and a half of life. How many friends are you willing to sacrifice in your pursuit for revenge?”
Hydrozeno gritted his teeth and looked down at the freezing blade.
“So I should just do nothing.”
Octavia scowled.
“Of course not. But if the two of you just go running off without being properly prepared then you will just get yourselves killed. It is just the two of you and Kiln is injured. You should take the time to recover and plan. Gather people who you know can help you deal with this threat.”
Hydrozeno let out an angry growl.
“We don’t have time. This, what did you call it, Kiln, Nightmare Knight?”
Kiln nodded.
“Yeah but as I was headed here I thought it was a little redundant. We could just call it a Knightmare with a ‘k’ instead of-”
Hydrozeno let out another growl, this time of annoyance. Kiln nodded smartly.
“Eh, it doesn’t really matter.”
Hydrozeno turned back to Octavia.
“We need to go now. Kiln’s encounter means that this one is far more intelligent than the last one. It is not going to stay in one place now that it has been discovered.”
Octavia folded her arms and arched one thick eyebrow.
“Exactly right. It took yer friend two weeks to get here. Do ya think it's still there? It could be a hundred miles from there by now and farther still once ya get back there. It’s a wild goose chase.”
“Kiln can track it. He is one of the best scouts in the region.”
Octavia snorted.
“Kiln is good, but he’s still young and there are still many trackers out there that are better than him,” Octavia turned to Kiln, “No offense to ya lad.”
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Kiln Shrugged.
“None taken.”
Hydrozeno let out a roar of rage. The stupid dwarf did not understand. He had to do this, for Icepaw.
“I am going and you can’t stop me.”
Octavia’s eyes flashed and there was steel in her gaze now. Hydrozeno was suddenly very aware of the dwarf’s self confident demeanor and the ax hanging from her belt. He was also acutely aware of how tired and beat up he was from the battle. His wounds still ached and it would be several days before he would be fully healed.
“Before ya do something stupid, remember this lad. I don’t want to see ya killed and if I have to stop ya I can.”
“Yeah you and what army?”
Octavia folded her arms and shook her head and Kiln smothered a laugh.
“Hydrozeno, she’s a mercenary company captain, remember?”
Hydrozeno’s jaw was beginning to ache from all the teeth grinding. Oh well, his regeneration would fix that, but he refused to acknowledge the point.
“Between me and Kiln we can outrun and avoid anyone you send after us.”
The punch from Octavia was too fast and too unexpected for Hydrozeno to dodge. He lay sprawled across the bunk, the biting cold of Icepaw’s rapier seeping through the cloth and armor on his back, numbing the skin. Hydrozeno had his hand to his broken jaw as he started to roll off the cot, but a massive steel plated boot came down on his chest and pinned him in place.
“Listen here lad.”
Hydrozeno stopped squirming and stared up into Octavia’s dark eyes, burning with anger.
“Ya will get yer chance at revenge. I promise ya that. But yer going to stay right here in camp for now and let Kiln’s leg and your broken jaw heal.”
Hydrozeno stared furiously back. For a moment gold eyes bore into black and then Hydrozeno smirked and used the last reserves of instant regeneration he had to restore his jaw.
“Oh look, my jaw is all better.”
A gauntleted fist swung out a second time and Hydrozeno felt his jaw bones break again.
“Really? Yer jaw still looks broken to me. Incidentally did ya know that it's been a while since I got to punch something at full strength without having to worry about causing lasting damage. I relish any opportunity to hit something as hard as I can. Now yer going to stay here and heal up. Besides it’s not like Kiln will be able to run properly with that leg. Especially if he’s got four hundred of the finest mercenaries on the coast chasing him. So sit tight and wait. I have a contact in the south who has a knight unit under their command. Their leader has dealt with threats like this before. A couple of years ago he dealt with a wraith in a single blow. He’s called Sir Blackwolf. We will send for him and his knights and he can join you.”
Octavia lifted her boot and stalked out. Hydrozeno heard her shouting once she was outside.
“Hadrian, com keep an eye on the elves! They’re hurt and I don’t want em leaving camp without my explicit orders.”
Hydrozeno spat out a tooth. Hadrian was the best swordsman in camp at the moment. Not even Hydrozeno would think to challenge him. So they would just have to wait for this Blackwolf to arrive.
* * *
Far to the south Sir Blackwolf was fidgeting at a formal meeting of several of the lords. His wife kicked him beneath the table and motioned with her eyes. He sighed and turned his attention back to the droning lord that was speaking. His left hand idly scratched at the stump where his right hand had once been.
Name: Kilnoher
Age: 23
Race: Elf
Mana
Nature Mana: 1/2
Earth Mana: 1/1
Body Mana: 1/1
Blessings:
Longbow of Sight: Level 1 0/2 Doubles your bow range and darkvision
Cloak of Shadows: Shadow Stealth Level 2 0/4 Increase your stealth level by the level of this cloak
Skills:
Health: 11/26
Base Defense: 0
Longevity: Level 4 8/16 Your lifespan in increase by 4 years
Darkvision: Level 4 8/16 You can see perfectly in the dark for up to 40(80) feet.
Bow range: Level 3 1/8 You bow range is 53(106) feet
Bow Accuracy: Level 2 2/4
Bow damage: Level 2 0/4
Nature Mana: Level 2 0/4
Earth Mana: Level 1 1/2
Stealth: Level 2(4) 0/4
Tracking: Level 2 0/4
Perception: Level 1 0/2
Body Mana: Level 1 0/2
Speed Boost Spell: Level 2 2/4 2/2 points used
Speed increase: Level 1 0/2 1%
Boost Duration: Level 1 0/2 1 seconds per point of body mana used
Sense Animals: Level 1 0/2 You can sense the presence of animal in a range of up to 100 feet for 1 second per nature mana used
Cartography: Level 2 0/4
Magic Items
Destroyed Boots of speed: Increases speed by 1% for 1 minute for every 99 mana imbued
Current Mana Charge: 0
Name: Hydrozeno
Age: 23
Race: Hydrablood Elf
Mana:
Blessings:
Scimitar of Flame: Level 1 0/2 Does 1 point of fire damage
Bag of the Companion
Health Level 2 2/4 Health 2/2
Claws Level 2 2/4
Bite Level 2 3/4
Fur Level 1 1/2
Rapier of the Fallen Snow
Skills:
Health: 1/28
Base Defense: 4
Longevity: Level 4 8/16
Darkvision: Level 4 8/16
Bow Range: Level 1 0/2
Bow Damage: Level 3 3/8
Bow Accuracy: Level 3 0/8
Regeneration: Level 10 162/512 10/10 points used
Regeneration: Level 3 0/4 regain 3(4) additional health per day
Instant Regeneration: Level 3 1/4 0/3(4) healing points remaining
Regeneration of the Hydra: Level 1 0/2 Each level increases the amount of regeneration and instant regeneration by 1
Swimming: Level 3 1/8
Scimitar Accuracy: Level 3 0/8
Scimitar Damage: Level 3 0/8
Scimitar Parry: Level 2 0/4
Light Armor: Level 2 0/4
Acidic Blood: Level 1 0/2
Cooking: Level 1 0/2
Intimidation: Level 2 0/4
Poison resistance: Level 1 0/2
Shield: Level 2 0/4