The sun was high, and a nearly seven-foot-tall boy was chopping wood. Sweet Marble was a sturdy tree with logs that burned for days. The forge was always hungry for more and ironcite chunks littered the ground at random. Fall would come to an end soon and it would be winter, but Markus was still hot and sweaty despite the season. His axe came down splitting the heavy logs each weighing a couple hundred kilos.
It was one of his final chores until he left for 8 years. Unless he failed, if he failed he would come back and become a farmer like Pa. Maybe marry a woman like his mother a mage that wasn’t allowed to succeed. A master telepath was considered a danger to the kingdom. There could only be one master telepath in haven at any time. Only the king could hold dominion over the mind. He wasn’t looking forward to taking the test for psychic anymore. He would rather choose ice than get cast out for being powerful.
He turned his head to see Trixie levitating the cut logs into a pile. She wore a yellow sun dress and held an umbrella to keep the sun off her. Her black skin was pleasant to the touch and he enjoyed her cold feel. She had grown a bit taller and wore her head of tentacles down in a ponytail. Her presence in his mind was that of a black hole months ago.
Over time he had gotten used to it. His own mind could touch hers now without any negative effects. Her diet of psychic brains helped. It calmed the darkness within her and made her much stronger. Before lifting firewood would have been a blatant waste of energy.
“My Markus, there is a group of riders and a carriage heading towards our home.” Markus wiped the sweat from his brow and slammed the axe in the stump. He put his shirt and vest back on feeling the cooling enchantments take effect. Despite the enchantments it didn’t self-clean, so he had to wash it with well water.
“Let’s go say hello. We are tax paying citizens of Haven there is nothing for us to fear.” Markus said. Doubts flooded his mind from Trixie. The mind flayer didn’t hide her feelings from him neither did he from her. Not since she found him crying. The embarrassment wouldn’t allow him to be found again.
Pa was there already Ma too. Ma wore a set of armor that looked so different from her normal brown dress. He mistook her for a mage of the court at first. “Flattery, my son is welcome. It seems, there is a war on the way and you will play the escort for our league lord’s daughter.” Ma said.
Markus didn’t grumble but he felt Trixie mirror his annoyance. Her tentacles wiggled in their ribbon. She looked ready to attack the guards.
“I didn’t know Philip hero of Might kept such foul beasts on his farm.” A man in golden armor said. His armor had the face of a lion on it. He had blond hair like Pa’s and carried himself similarly.
“My lord James Leonidas. I mean no disrespect. She is partnered to my son, he is a skilled monster tamer going to take the test.” Pa said. Markus blinked. It troubled him seeing his father bow to another and show fealty.
“Your son shows no respect, maybe I should have him kill his pet, before it becomes a nuisance.” The lord of house Leonidas said.
Quest #14 Kill a Noble house
Reward 100,000points
Quest #15 Break a Noble House
Reward 50,000points
Quest #16 Replace a Noble House
Reward 200,000points
Markus copied Pa and bowed. “Good if you hadn’t obeyed. He would have made you kill Trixie or one of you brothers or sister would have died.” Ma said. Her mental voice was cool devoid of emotion.
She worked over his mind without his control. Memories of etiquette swept through his mind until he could act like a noble or at least a respectable servant. He would just need to put it all into practice. Trixie quickly blocked off Ma and restructured his mind to a more functional state. His mother had a look of displeasure on her face.
“Rise, taxes have gone up all land workers owe 10,000points to the crown. War is coming and farms like these will likely be lost. Any livestock worth the trip back to haven will be confiscated to pay your taxes. If you can’t come up with a measly 10,000points I will confiscate that horse in the corral. Nightbreed are rare perhaps worth a good 30,000points. I will take it and the army will collect your livestock as they march through.” Pa took out the 10,000 and threw the points at the noble.
“James you push your luck. Leave or I will show you who really holds power here.” Pa said.
“That’s right Might, what you were known for when you were a hero. You are one no longer and your hero rank artefacts were confiscated shortly after you were relived of the title. I have 80 knights at my back. Who really holds power here?” The noble man said.
“Dear, enough posturing you collected your taxes let me talk with Izzy. Go smoke or something over near the barn if you will.” James turned to his wife with rage in his eyes.
“I am you husband and I command you to stay in the carriage. I only let you come with me to see your friends bow and scrape.” The noble woman stepped from her carriage.
“You are my husband that is true. But Philip is my brother and your brother in law. This is not the way a noble treats family.” The noble woman said.
“Captain retrieve the points from the ground and hand them to me.” He looked over to the woman. “My lady wife we will discuss this another time. When you’re done talking to these peasants return to the Ironheart castle.” The man’s nose practically curled up as he rode off with half the knights.
“Come Margarette come and meet your cousins.” A girl his age with light skin and flowing blond curls stepped out of the carriage. As she walked her curls bounced. She fanned herself constantly to keep the heat back.
“Children, this is lady Elizabeth Leonidas of the noble house Leonidas and your aunt.” Markus bowed like his father had before.
“That is unnecessary we are family after all.” Elizabeth said.
“Izzy you have certainly had your way with their minds. I’ve never seen faster etiquette lessons. His body moves differently already, is he a psychic like you?” Markus shrugged and lifted a few hundred grains of sand and twirled them around. Elizabeth clapped her hands. “Multitasking that is impressive. If you would be a dear and show Margarette around I would be thankful.”
“Mother, I don’t want to look at the farm, I want to go back to castle Ironheart and read my books.” A single look from Elizabeth made her stomp over.
She crossed her arms and looked at Markus expectantly. “Well aren’t you going to bow? I’m not my mother I demand your respect peasant family or no.” Markus looked down at the tiny girl. She was his age and little more than an ant to him.
“Margarette he’s your age go play or something. If you keep pulling this pig shit, I’m burning all your romance novels when I return to the castle.” Markus noticed the I and not we.
“She isn’t returning with you?” Markus asked. Elizabeth looked shocked then smiled.
“You raised a perceptive one. I like that. No, you are both traveling to Redgate to try for the academy. You’re both of age.” Elizabeth said.
“Mother how can he be my age he’s taller than the hero.” Margarette said.
“I ate a dungeon treasure and it did this to me.” Markus muttered.
“See, he’s your age just a bit more capable than most boys at that age.” Elizabeth said. “Now, I’m going to catch up with my friend explore the farm and have some fun. I thought children were supposed to love farms. Didn’t you used to beg me to come here when you were eight. Well better late than never.” Elizabeth said.
“I was eight now I’m thirteen farms are so gross.” Margarette said. She turned to him and stomped forward. “Show me to the most interesting thing around here now peasant.” Margarette said.
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Markus shrugged and Trixie took her hand. She shrieked, and Trixie rolled her eyes burbling. “This is a relative of yours. I’ve met a master psychic who could rip the mountains from the earth, a hero who can crush the mountains with his hands, and you a boy who slew two of my brethren with psychic powers. She is food until proven otherwise.” Markus nodded not bothering to disagree with her.
“You dressed a monster in a yellow dress how sick are you. Mind flayers eat brains why would you keep on around?” Margarette yelled.
“Cousin of mine are you going to scream all the way to Redgate? Markus asked. She blinked at him owlishly. “Come on you said you wanted to see the most interesting thing first. I guess that would be the rei widows.”
They came upon the massive colony that the rei widows have become. The dru tree had grown rapidly since the spiders were added. With more of its sweet sap used as an attractant, more insect ventured into the window’s nests. With the insects being devoured there was nothing draining its sap and the tree grew quickly. It was too large for him to put his arms around now. Soon it would take a few seconds to walk around, then a few minutes, and perhaps even hours someday.
“This is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen. Why can’t I look away?” Spiders spun new webs, threw out dried up carcasses, and rolled up new insects. There was even a part of the tree were egg sacs were laid. It had become a fortress of sorts for the spiders. They were growing larger every generation. He snatched on off and devoured it. “That’s horrible why would you eat them.”
“She knows, I eat brains right. I would eat hers but then I may get indigestion.” Trixie said.
“This is a farm, why would we keep them here on a dru tree of all things, if we weren’t going to do something with them?” Markus asked.
“Let me ride your nightbreed. I’m sure she’s tame. You seem like a capable horseman.” She said while nodding. “Your intelligence is rustic in nature, right. Show me this great stallion of yours.”
“Her name is Windy and she’s a mare. I have no idea if she will let you ride her or not. It took me a few weeks to break her.” She nodded her head.
“Yes, psychics are known for their high willpower and often single mindedness during combat. You probably kept at it until she gave up. A good trait for a horseman to have.” Markus thought about his hunting trips. When he went out he would stay out all night if he had to. He wanted to complete what he set out to do. It was the feeling of completeness that he was after.
“Maybe, but Windy has a temper about her let’s hope she won’t take a bite out of you.” Markus said.
“Didn’t you remove her fangs. Most who tame nightbreed do. Otherwise they can cause a lot of damage during the breaking process.” Margarette said.
“Where did you learn that?” Markus asked.
“I read it in a romance novel.” Markus raised his shirt up and turned around revealing a purple scar.
“The process was pretty rough on the both of us. I was relentless, and she bites. I didn’t have the heart to yank her teeth out no matter how mad she got.” Markus said.
“You’re kind hearted, until you’re wielding a light hammer and about to smash a girl in the head.” Trixie said helpfully.
“Shush you,” Markus said to the smiling mind flayer.
“That is frightening. Does she do that often?” Margarette asked.
“Only when she finds a reason to laugh at me.” He eased a hand between her head tentacles feeling them squirm between his fingers relaxed him.
“Was it something embarrassing?” Margarette asked, Trixie nodded. “That’s the best kind of thing to laugh about. I think we are going to be friends after all. Tell me about other things that embarrass my dear cousin.” Margarette said.
Markus slumped and followed them to the corral where windy galloped to him and pressed her nose against his forehead. He opened the gate and began brushing her down. There was a sack of cooled meat waiting for them in the barn. He froze it this morning and let it thaw. He handed Trixie a brain and she pushed it to her mouth and swallowed it down. Margarette took a step back at the sight.
“Markus what kind of brain was that? It wasn’t human was it?” Margarette asked.
“Wild boar, a psychic variant we breed to keep Trixie fed. Though, I suspect we will have to hunt something up on our way for her.” He handed the rest to Windy, who happily chomped down the meat. She could graze on grass, but meat was her favorite.
“Oh, why don’t other monster tamers just do that then and partner with mind flayers.” Margarette asked.
“Because if we aren’t completely loyal the master is food just like the pig. I’m having trouble with my definition of a Margarette she seems to fall between family and food that will make me sick. Definitely not a Markus by any stretch of the word.” Trixie mumbled in his mind.
“Oh, so you’re completely loyal to me now since when?” Markus said. She fell into him and looked up at him. He looked down in her big yellow eyes. Brush midway across Windy’s flank. Markus caught her, and her tentacles squirmed between his fingers.
“Don’t be an ass or I won’t let you feel up my tentacles like you like.” She said playfully.
“I don’t think it would end well for other monster tamers.” Markus said.
Windy nearly bit her neck out when Margarette tried to get in the stirrup. Markus took the bite on the arm. Windy looked sad for the rest of the day after that. Her head was a lower than normal and she looked at him forlornly. He fed her an extra helping of meat that night to cheer her up. Margarette bunked with him.
Over the months since his change he had gathered stone from a local quarry and carved it into blocks. Some ways away from the house, he built himself a stone cabin with a chimney and a couple of rooms. His own bed was made of stone with a blanket for comfort. The other rooms were a kitchen and Trixie’s room. It was cozy and strong. So long as he stepped carefully he didn’t risk breaking the floor. She had a bed roll which made the floor much more comfortable.
“I don’t see why you sleep on a stone slab when the ground is also stone. It seems redundant.”
“I like sleeping above the ground. Now good night we need to leave at first light if we are to make it to the next village before dark.” Markus muttered.
“Fine, but Markus are you sure you want to do this? We will be leaving, and you might never see your family again. It can’t be what you want.”
“I’ll see them again. Pa won’t fall to some monster army rising from the north. I doubt any would want to deal with Stan anyway.”
“Markus every order of knight with any renown for combat has been called to the north to fight this threat. A demon lord isn’t a joke!” Margarette yelled.
“I’m trying to sleep.” Trixie said.
“Sorry, Margarette is losing her shit over a demon lord of all things.”
“They are powerful. There are two powerful dark presences to the north not one. If they are prepared for only one demon lord, they will die pitifully.” Trixie said.
“They are only knights, death was certain regardless.” Markus said.
“If your points of context are Marie, your pa, and your ma. Then yes, they are worthless. Though, I wouldn’t want to fight a knight in single combat.”
“Hey, are you listening to me?” Margarette demanded.
“No, I was talking with Trixie, what were you saying?” She let out a deep breath.
“Nothing important, what did Trixie have to say?” Margarette asked.
“There are two great dark presences not one. The army may charge into a trap. A lot of knights are going to die.” Markus said.
“We have to get to a village immediately and warn them. They need to regroup, this is potentially a dark crusade. The Vis Count needs to know. He is the defender of the realm and he’s riding into a trap.” Margarette got up.
“We aren’t getting anywhere before first light. Go to sleep there is time they are still collecting taxes and gathering forces. Then they will need to organize and decide who goes where. Plenty of time, they won’t invade until they are at the peak of their numbers. The threat is still a demon lord. There just might be two now.” Markus said.
He waited until he heard snoring and got up and crept out. Pa was waiting on him just outside. “You’re leaving at first light. I couldn’t be prouder to see you go, but at the same time, I don’t want you to leave. This isn’t going to be like with Marie boy. The outside world doesn’t give a shit who your pa is it will poison you, slit your throat, and leave you in a ditch if you aren’t careful. I don’t need to tell you that, I shouted it at you since I started running you through drills. No with little Margarette with you every sell sword and bandit will be acting like Ma is ringing the supper bell. Be careful and here.” Pa held up an axe shaped package. “Wonder what inside?” The old man joked. “Well go on and open it.”
Markus unfolded the cloth to reveal an axe. It was heavy and made of good steel. Maybe of lesser quality than one wielded by holy armors.
“It isn’t a hero level artefact but its sturdy enough and you’re good with an axe. It might scare off a few bandits.” The old man turned his back.
“Pa what will happen will you take Tiberius and the others and head south?”
“No, I’m staying here, they’re going with your Ma and aunt to castle Ironheart. Don’t worry about us. Just go to the academy and make something of yourself. Goodbye son.” Markus watched his father walk away. The helping hand was gone now. It was time for him to stand on his own two feet.