The afternoon brought clear skies and a crisp chill to the air. The layers of warm clothing kept the worst of the cold at bay and Nick found himself enjoying the steady pace of travel south. The roads were smooth and his mount that he spontaneously named Plumb was surprisingly comfortable to ride. The streak of purple bark-like skin on her side inspired the name and Nick was thrilled at how obedient she was after some treats and soothing words.
The Nightfall sisters were a bit less enthusiastic but Nick was simply happy to be making progress towards his destination and didn't let their seriousness affect his good mood. He decided it couldn’t hurt to learn more about his companions seeing as they would be traveling together for quite some time and looked over toward Nuri that was riding alongside him while Larissa rode ahead.
"So, how long have you been doing bodyguard work?" Nick asked Nuri.
Nuri looked over with a blank expression. The two had spent little time conversing and Nuri was still working to figure out Nick’s history and motives before coming to an evaluation of him. She had agreed to his contract with her sister due to the favorable terms despite their poor reputation. The non-disclosure agreement enforced by the station was not unusual for bodyguards but she was not prepared for the station skill Nick possessed. She was still rattled thinking of the dire consequences his skill could cause if it was leveraged by certain leaders and conquerors.
“About three years,” she replied blandly, hiding her curiosity about her strange employer.
“I see. So you’ve probably seen some crazy stuff, huh?”
“Perhaps to some.”
Nick paused his questions at Nuri’s lack of enthusiasm. He opened his mouth but then closed it again deciding maybe it was best to let her warm up to him more before pressing for more details about her history.
She surprised him by voicing a question of her own. “How does a [Merchant] of your age seem to know so little?”
Nick was a bit caught off guard by her question. He had known she was highly perceptive based on her class and the handful of conversations he had participated in since he had hired her but this was the most direct she had been.
He stumbled over a reply. “I’ve been..uhh...sheltered. I didn’t get my class until recently and grew up in a really closed community.”
She stared at him for a long time before saying anything. “That explanation is unlikely to hold up against most scrutiny. I know there are things you can’t share but it would be advisable to let us know a bit more about your background for the sake of protecting you from yourself.”
“I guess that is fair,” Nick replied.
He was cautious about revealing too much. He certainly felt like he could trust Frederick but his bodyguards were paid contractors and not his friends. He was certain the contract would cover him in terms of what information they could share about him but it would take some time before he truly felt comfortable explaining his rather unusual appearance into their world.
Nick settled for a more general approach. “I frankly don’t know how to explain it without sounding crazy. I guess to put it simply. I essentially know as much as a child about the ways of the world and culture but have a spattering of deep knowledge about random topics that most would find unusual for the typical level of education I’ve come to understand is common.”
“And these random topics include enough to make an expedition into the frontier a wise plan?”
“I believe so. I have much to learn and I hope you can share more of your experiences with me but I do think the premise of my plan is reasonable. We take some time to get our feet under us once we reach the frontier, hire some muscle, and smack some sense into the monsters while generating some coin to expand the company one contract at a time.”
“You make it sound simple but I assure you the reality will not be as such. Frontier expansions are competitive and there will be politics to contend with.”
Nick nodded as he was sure Nuri’s warnings were warranted but he felt confident his skill would help them avoid much of the red tape.
“And does my skill change that equation at all?”
“Perhaps,” Nuri admitted cautiously.
“I know I’ve got a lot to prove to you and everyone in fact, but together I think we have the opportunity to do something incredible. We will have to adapt plenty as we go, I’m sure, but the foundations are solid.”
The conversation fell off after that as the two companions rode on in comfortable silence. Both of them had a lot to consider and the trip south would provide them plenty of time to do so.
—
The next three days passed uneventfully. The weather left much to be desired when snow began to fall and nighttime temperatures dropped to well below freezing but progress was steady during the day and the group of travelers arrived at the foot of the Gazt mountain pass that would take them to warmer weather and out of the central plains of the kingdom and into the rugged lands beyond.
Nick looked up at the mountains, they were imposing and larger than any he had ever seen or heard of from Earth. There were peaks that were shrouded by the fog and clouds above and it was impossible to tell how tall they were from the ground.
The pass was man-made according to the Nightfall sisters. The evidence of [Earth Mages] or similar classes was present and a tunnel had been carved directly into the side of the mountain. It was not what Nick expected but it was technically a pass through the mountains so he didn’t give it much more thought.
The poor weather resulted in only a handful of other travelers on the road but the majority were traveling between small homesteads or villages spread throughout the plains not making their way south. Nick and his companions found themselves alone at the entrance to the mountain pass and its imposing darkness only lit by some dim crystals that had been embedded into the walls a few dozen meters apart.
“How long is the tunnel?” he cautiously asked.
“The other travelers mentioned it was a half day journey through the pass,” Larissa replied.
She had a thoughtful look on her face as she observed the entrance and looked around the area. As the weather worsened she had become more on edge and alert. The snow and fog significantly reduced visibility and it made her job as a bodyguard more difficult.
“We should camp the night at the entrance. There is a clearing that has been used by other travelers through the pass that would be suitable. It would be unwise to attempt to sleep within,” she said after a few moments.
Nick nodded despite his desire to continue toward their destination as quickly as possible. He had been looking forward to getting beyond the mountains and to warmer weather once the snow began to fall.
The company dismounted and began to establish a campsite for the evening. They had settled into a bit of a routine after the first two days and each attended to their own tasks. Within a half hour a fire pit had been dug, a fire was being started, and their small canvas tent had been pitched nearby. The tent was made of a thick material and was surprisingly durable considering the typical material Nick was familiar with from his handful of camping trips as a boy scout.
The three companions huddled around the fire and stretched their muscles from a long day of riding. Nick in particular was feeling the aches and soreness that came from an inexperienced rider. He had taken to walking for some parts of their journey despite the tough terrain simply to give his backside a break from the repetitive motion of riding on Plumb.
Plumb turned out to be an ideal mount for Nick. She was responsive and seemed to have already taken a liking to him. The little snacks and treats he snuck her way certainly didn’t hurt their quick connection. The kroras were settled onto the ground nearby resting for the evening and gently snoring. Their sounds became a comfort to Nick each night as he drifted off to sleep.
As the party began to prepare a dinner from their limited supplies, the final rays of the sun disappeared beyond the mountains around them. Long shadows became pools of darkness with the small fire keeping the cold and night at bay.
Nuri’s neck tightened at the sudden deepening of the night. She was comfortable in the dark being a Night Elf. Her night vision was among the best of any race but her instincts began to whisper that the darkness was not welcome that day. She didn’t speak but met the eyes of her sister and knew she had felt it too. Nick meanwhile chattered about his fascination with camping in the wilds and how it reminded him of field trips.
Nuri focused on their surroundings, letting Nick’s conversation die on his tongue as he noticed the tense looks of his companions.
“Is something wrong?” he asked quietly.
“Maybe. Stay close to the fire and keep this close,” Nuri said before tossing one of the small daggers to his feet and not looking back at him. Her employer didn’t make her job easy being so lightly armed and armored but she had no right to complain as they were still far from the frontier and the threat of monsters. She hoped the small blade would be unnecessary but it was a precaution that had saved lives in the past.
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She rose from the small round of wood she’d been sitting on and carefully slipped out of the light of the fire.
Nick glanced down at the dagger and his face went pale.
“What is going on? Is something out there?” he said while fumbling for the dagger.
Larissa, already standing, looked down at him. Her gaze shifted to the darkness and her nose twitched before she replied.
“Prepare the kroras to flee to the pass. The air smells of demons this night.”
She unslung her bow and strung it in one smooth motion, already preparing an arrow.
Nick’s already pale face went even whiter and he felt a cold sweat sweep down his spine. He was at a loss. Demons weren’t real. Then it hit him. He was traveling with night elves and riding mythical creatures. Demons were most certainly a possibility and he had been casually walking around without a clue. He became frozen in fear at the realization.
Larissa had slowly made her way over and poked him sharply in the ribs.
“Get moving,” she hissed, with no room for questions or arguments.
Nick took a deep calming breath before scampering to the kroras and gathering the supplies to get them loaded. The kroras had been unsettled by his frantic movements through camp and were already on their feet by the time he arrived.
Nick looked back to the fire but couldn’t spot Nuri or Larissa. They had both disappeared beyond the light of the fire and unlike them he had much more limited vision in the dark. The minutes passed slowly as he felt like he was taking ages to strap down all the supplies.
The silence was suddenly broken by a screech that was straight out of horror movies. The noise made Nick’s entire body freeze in fear. Thankfully, the kroras simply stamped on the ground restlessly at the noise but seemed otherwise unfazed. The next sounds seemed to come from all around as wails and shrieks began echoing off the mountains.
He went back to the fire searching for a long enough stick to use as a torch to light his way if he had to leave the camp. Before he could find anything a shadow streaked toward him and Nuri appeared, blades drawn and dripping with blood.
“Time to go,” she said tensely.
Nick abandoned his search for a torch and began hustling toward the kroras. He hesitated to look over his shoulders but Nuri was gone again and he began to hear the shrieks growing closer. He grabbed Plumb by the rope tied to her saddle and began pulling her along while urgently whispering commands to the other two creatures.
Thankfully, they listened and he made his way toward the mouth of the pass at a quick jog. The kroras kept pace easily with only the exhale of their large lungs and crunching snow underhoof to indicate they were behind him.
Before Nick had even made it halfway to the pass entrance a small shadow darting in from his leftside caught his eye. He dove to the ground but whatever had passed by caught his shoulder and a sharp pain shot into him. He spun to the ground and hissed in pain. His shoulder screamed at him in agony and he felt the blood pooling and soaking into his clothes within moments. He was completely panicked by that point without the ability to see the enemy or hear anything beyond the shrieks and wails of the demons in the night.
Nick clamped onto his shoulder with a handful of snow in his palm and pressed hard. He was running on instincts and adrenaline as he scrambled back to his feet. He abandoned his whispers and simply yelled for Plumb and the other kroras as he began sprinting toward the pass. He had no other ideas on what to do or where to go. He made it another dozen feet before he heard a deep bellow and his heart sank. One of the kroras had made the sound and he knew couldn’t go back or do anything to help. He had to hope Nuri or Larissa were able to handle the demons. He didn’t have the skills or abilities to do anything and the dagger he’d grabbed was already lost somewhere in the snow when he fell.
Nick made it to the opening of the pass within a couple more minutes using the dim light from the crystals embedded at the entrance to guide his way. By that time his shoulder was pulsing in pain and the blood had started to run down his side and the hand he had pressed into it. Two kroras were at his heels as he entered the narrow pass no wider than a two lane road. His heart sank even further when he realized Plumb and her easily recognizable streaks of purple were not among them.
He almost charged back out into the clearing but his shoulder screaming in pain reminded him of how poor of an idea that would be. The next few minutes were a tension filled mess of emotions for Nick. He huddled along one wall while trying to keep pressure on the wound in his shoulder that was still seeping blood. He had prevented some blood loss but his head was light and he felt his legs were close to giving out on him.
Finally, after what felt like ages, Larissa reappeared and tossed a small orb onto the ground that bloomed into a red glow of light. She was coated in sweat and her quiver was less than half full since the last time he saw her.
She ran her gaze over Nick and the kroras, assessing the situation.
“Imps and crawlers. They caught some other travelers and enough spawned to be trouble.”
She made her way to Nick and took a closer look at his shoulder.
“Nuri is dealing with the remaining demons. Once she returns we will tend to the wound. Do you feel any heat in your extremities?”
Nick shook his head at her question.
She nodded, “Good. Unlikely the claws were poisoned. I didn’t get a good look at the skills the demons were using. You will be alright with a little time.”
Nuri met them soon after with a frown.
“The creatures have all been put to the blade but the injuries on the other krora were too much for it. We are down one mount for the rest of our travels unless we can afford another.” She said.
Nick’s heart broke a little at that.
Nuri looked at Nick and sighed. “I feel we are cursed. Another injured client is not going to help our reputation, Larissa.”
“Hush sister. We will tend the wound and avoid any further issues,” Larissa said sternly.
Larissa moved over to Nick and began removing bandages from her pack. Within a few minutes the bandage and a healing salve were wrapped around Nick’s wound and he immediately felt its effects reduce the pain and impact of the blood loss.
Larissa looked up at Nick, “Demons are rare. The presence of them here in settled lands, even more so. I don’t have any excuses to offer beyond that. We have failed to keep you safe and have only our services to offer. If you will have us, we will extend our services for another 10 cycles for no cost.”
She bowed deeply and Nick could see the guilt on her face at her perceived failure. If anything he began to suspect it was his fault this had happened. He was a champion of a goddess and there was no telling what that meant. Could demons be drawn to him somehow?
He sat back with a sigh before replying, “You have no need to apologize. I accept your services as I fear I need them more than you know, but I think we need rest and I need time to process everything that's happened. Then I need to share more with you both that might explain the demons and other things to come.”
The sisters both nodded before Nuri retrieved their tent and set it up right inside the pass. Larissa announced she would keep watch at the mouth of the entrance the rest of the night and it would be good to get rest and recover.
Nick’s arm was heavy and lifting it made the pain spike. He carefully removed his outermost layer that was still damp with blood and created a temporary sling. It helped to support the weight of his arm and relieve some of the stress but it was far from ideal.
The pain made it hard to think straight and it took Nick far too long to remember he had access to the station market that would almost certainly contain a way to help his condition. Not to mention a pile of steaming demon corpses piled outside in the clearing where they'd made their first camp. He was sure they would be lucrative considering they were supposed to be rather rare.
With a thought Vander snapped into existence. Nick had not been conversing with the station avatar much during their travels and it was the first time he'd summoned him since they had been on the road.
"We encountered a bit of trouble as you can see. I need to get something that can heal my arm or at the very least help with pain and speed it's healing." Nick said wearily, nodding toward his arm.
Vander turned took only moments to analyze the situation before replying, "The wound can be addressed by a number of alchemical products for sale or you could hire a healer to join the company although the cost will be significant. Healing classes are difficult to safely level and are highly sought, resulting in inflated prices.”
“A healer can wait. Get me something that can deal with this.”
“Very well. I recommend a mid-tier healing tonic produced by Salves and Stags Brewing Company. They have an excellent reputation for producing quality healing products. The cost for one mid-tier tonic is 9 Silver and 90 Copper.”
“Damn, that is expensive.”
“Indeed. The ingredients required are difficult to acquire and special classes are needed to properly prepare them prior to being brewed.”
“It can’t be helped. Perhaps the demons will fetch us some coins. Go ahead and process the purchase.” Nick grumbled at not only the pain that was wrecking his body but the wrench it threw into his plans and his coin purse.
Vander nodded and a small glass bottle with a clear liquid appeared in his hand and the small coin bag at Nick’s hip lightened slightly. He shook the bottle for a few seconds and unstoppered the bottle causing the liquid to glow slightly, before handing it to Nick.
Nick took the bottle with the hand on his uninjured arm, “Do I drink the whole thing?”
Vander nodded, “Yes, this variety requires consumption according to the label.”
Nick glanced down at the small paper label and noticed a short list of instructions including the shaking Vander had performed before handing it off.
“Weird. Well, bottoms up.” Nick said before swallowing it all in two gulps. The bottle was small and only contained approximately 4 ounces of liquid. It made his tongue tingle as it went down and tasted a bit like a strong seltzer water flavored with something acidic.
The effects only took moments to start. The throbbing became a dull ache and soon Nick could feel the strain of weight from his arm relaxing. He carefully removed his makeshift sling and found the puncture wounds had closed over with fresh scars.
“Not bad, but I’d prefer to avoid a similar situation in the future.”
The night attack had left Nick feeling deeply unsettled. He felt like he had been getting his head around his new world despite the dire warnings he had received from Frederick and others about the brutality around every corner. He was unprepared to face that head on with an almost deadly encounter within days of being on his own.
Nick wasn’t able to do anything beyond sleep after his would had healed. The blood loss and coming down from the adrenaline took all his energy and he couldn’t do anything else until he was rested and had time to process the experience. He had been introduced to the dangers of Proelium with a first hand lesson and while he did not enjoy the experience, he would be damned if he wouldn’t learn from it.