The General led them out of the government district. This time it seemed like only half of the soldiers they came with were with them. There were more people out doing day to day tasks. Deacon was reminded about the earth shaping ability he noticed on their way to the meeting. He wondered if it was a learned ability or a racial ability. Deacon spent enough time in contemplation that he figured he should just ask.
“General, the ability to mold earth and stone I see the people using, is that a skill or can you all do it?” Deacon asked.
“That is a normal part of life for Mulvarians. In your youth, you become one with the earth around you. You learn to bend and shape it like a child’s toy in adolescence. Finally in adulthood we put you to work on the substance that suits you best. Mine was granite. Its what I make my armor from. Sorry we can’t teach it to you.” General Ferent said politely.
“How did you know I would ask that?” Deacon shockingly responded.
“You seem like the youngest and most impressionable of your group. That and all the little ones want to learn granite armor. It runs in my family but it’s still rare overall. I doubt your race could learn it.” Said the general with some finality.
“What is he saying?” Armand asked.
“Oh, that I can’t learn how to make that rock armor.” Deacon replied.
“I meant about the meeting. Did it go well or not?” Armand shot back as he sped up to fall in step behind Deacon.
“Right, hang on a sec.” Deacon said and turned to the general, “How do you think that meeting went. I know I lost my cool in there. I hope that didn’t ruin our chances at cooperation.”
“I doubt it. Hold on until we get back to the barracks. I can speak more freely there.” Said the General as a huge boulder flew over the traveling group's heads sinking a solid foot into the ground just outside the barracks.
Deacon stood up straight and turned his aura on. Armand stood back-to-back with Typhus while Elle started casting a spell. Michael to his credit just dove at the ground. Deacon expected the troops to turn on them in that instant but was surprised to see them circling the party facing outwards. They were defending them from some threat. Deacon could easily see above their heads to a group of oncoming Mulvarians with various weapons. They all had holy symbols of Amon hanging from chains around their necks. The General took two firm steps toward the group fully armored and wielding a stone axe.
“Return to your temple right now and I’ll overlook this breach of hospitality!” screamed General Ferent.
“You would protect the Child of Ruin? You would shepherd it through our streets? Where we raise our young? You are supposed to protect the people. Kill it now and keep our world whole!” yelled the Mulvarian at the front.
“That’s Anry, how did he miss us? He throws all day at the quarry.” Murmured one of the soldiers.
“You condemn him, yet you are the ones throwing large rocks. What if you would have hit one of our own? Allow us to continue on our mission since no blood has been shed, we can chock this up to a misunderstanding.” yelled Ferent.
Deacon noticed that General Ferent was giving hand signals behind his back to his second in command. While they were talking the whole group was positioning themselves between the barracks and the mob. If the mob got between them and the barracks there would be no way to avoid a fight. Armand noticed this too and started shifting Michael and Elle in the proper direction.
“Do not pick up that rock Anry! The first person I tell about this will be your mother.” Said the General pointedly, “The rest of you go now. I’ll handle this.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
They all filed into the barracks with the angry mob hollering expletives the whole time. The gate closed behind them with General Ferent on the outside. A sack was brought over with everyone’s belongings in it. Several of the guards thanked us for not engaging in combat with their people. Ferenet’s second in command, named Lenny, made it clear they would have to defend the people before them.
“Ok these are the barracks. The General has a room for you to rest in until he gets back. I suggest you take the opportunity. I will post a guard just in case but once the gate is closed, only military personnel will get in.” relayed Lenny as he pointed at a door and walked away.
“What was all that about?” Armand asked as they entered the room.
“It seems these people have a prophecy about a green-eyed devil. We can rest in this room until the general comes back.” replied Deacon.
“Don’t you think we need to get out there and stop the bandits. Michael said his eyes started glowing and my money’s on that being the dagger in the story. I think the elders think that too.” Typhus said.
“What are the chances the ruby elder sent those goons?” Elle asked.
“If she did, she did it prior to us actually getting in the chamber. The walk wasn’t that far, and she was still in there when we left. Deacon, before we left you were saying something about being very lucky.” Armand said.
“Ok, cards on the table. I have a luck stat. Its over three hundred. Now that I think about it, that’s probably why the boulder didn’t hit us.” Deacon ruminated.
“First, there’s no such thing as a luck stat. Second, you are telling me its at the Skybound Limit. Can’t be. That would mean you have a stat approaching the celestial.” Armand responded.
“Think about it Armand. We found him locked in box, then we stumbled upon the missing townsfolk, and he fell down a pit and survived. Then he miraculously brought Roger's family to the town we were still in. Never mind all the insane stuff we have seen since he’s been with us. He’s definitely telling the truth.” Elle said.
“The boy found a tapestry that proves my clan didn’t doom our entire society. One tapestry, within a week of knowing him my world has been turned upside down. Also, he smashed a high-level soldier through a building.” Typhus added.
“He did learn a rare fighting style in a week, and we are having this conversation in the barracks of an undiscovered race that seems primed to enter the world at large. This is insane.” Armand said pacing back and forth.
“Ok I didn’t want to talk about this in front of Michael but the chances of him living through this are slim anyway.” Deacon said with a smirk.
“Wait what? No, I surrendered. You have to take me to Iron Mountain for trial.” Michael said nervously while eyeing everyone in the room.
“Relax, Deacon is messing with you. Its his attempt to lighten the mood.” Elle said.
“Also, I ran into a Cardinal Unit from the region I showed up in. It’s the only way for me to explain all this.” Deacon added.
“Alright, I believe you. What now?” Armand asked.
“Well, the General made sure we got our gear back. That’s a good sign. I anticipate a back scratcher.” Deacon said.
“More nonsense from your world?” Typhus asked.
“No, its reference to an old saying. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” Deacon said.
“Well put young man.” The General said as he opened the door with a softly glowing rock dangling from his neck, “I need your help. I’m anticipating an attack from the moss ghouls. They have never massed in one location like this before. At least not in my lifetime. My scouts have caught sight of your glowing eyed vagabond. He seems to be controlling the beasties. We have tunnels that run under the old city. That’s typically how we get in and out without disturbing the population of monsters. I intend to hold the gate leading to the west. I’m asking for your help in an official capacity. The elders have decided if you’ll do this for us, we can then help you recover your bandits. It’s more important that they don’t get in the inner city and if they are all on the west side, the chances we can get our hands on the dagger have grown. Let’s make one thing clear, we will kill anyone that tries to get into the inner city. This is the one and only warning.”
New Quest- Defense of Mulvaria- Help defend the Mulvarians from the Moss Ghouls. Successful completion of this quest will grant a new level.
“What about the followers of Amon? Are they going to keep trying to hurt Deacon?” Elle asked.
“I’ve calmed them down. We are not all followers of Amon. I also wanted to thank Deacon for his comments to the elder ruby. If anyone asks, I’ll deny ever saying that.” smirked the General.
“Wait a minute you had a translation stone the whole time?” Armand asked.
“My father taught me to trust but verify. People are themselves when they think no one is listening.” said General Ferent.