Day 2 of Michael’s Deadline

Ghost has manifested.

Ghost awoke early the next morning, well-rested and eager to get going, and I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed at her insistence. I was still yawning, though, as we reached the center of the cave.

To my surprise, the area had been transformed, and where yesterday there had been only a single firepit, today there were three raised fire-beds.

“What are those?” Ghost asked, curiously eyeing the contraptions made out of bone, metal, and stone. About hip height, they were filled with brightly burning coals, atop which a line of cauldrons bubbled merrily.

“They’re… for cooking, I think,” I replied.

“Look who is awake,” Shael said, looking up from one of the bubbling pots. “Have a seat, Anriq will bring you some food in a jiffy.”

I glanced from the scowling werewolf—he looked none too happy to have been conscripted as a waiter—to the large bone table on the left. Adriel and Safyre were seated there, eating their own breakfast. They were not alone either. Behind the pair, seeming to chat idly amongst themselves, were the nagians.

And not just the three I’d met last night, but another seven too.

That makes ten possessed already rehomed, I thought with a pleased smile. Adriel looks set to finish on time. Nodding in acknowledgment to Shael, I made my way to the table.

“Are those the ones you told me about?” Ghost asked from beside me.

The nagians, I noticed, were looking our way now, and as many eyes were upon the pyre wolf as me. “Yes. They’re the former possessed.”

“Can we trust them?” she asked, making no effort to conceal the suspicion in her voice.

“That’s what you’re going to have to determine.” I couldn’t do so myself, not even with blood puppet. Questioning two golems a day—the maximum I could enslave in a day—would simply take too long. “We’ll deal with them after breakfast,” I said, reaching the table and sitting down.

Safyre looked up from her bowl. “Morning,” she said tiredly.

Returning her greeting, I glanced at Adriel. She, too, had dark circles under her eyes. I winced, knowing my tight timetable was to blame. “Long night?”

“Yes,” Adriel replied simply.

I glanced at the silently watching nagians. “You’ve made good progress, I see.”

The lich nodded.

“Any problems?” I asked.

Adriel shrugged. “None that bear mentioning. You will have your hundred golems, and with time to spare.” She looked over her shoulder. “They are well-suited to fighting in the nether.”

Lucius bowed. “You do excellent work, as always, Adriel.”

A smile peeked through the lich’s weary expression. “And you, my friend, have not changed. Still, a flatter, I see.”

The golem laughed.

“Lucius is right,” I said, ignoring the banter. “You’ve outdone yourself once again, Adriel.”

She inclined her head, accepting the praise.

I glanced around. “Where are the Pack elders?”

“Still resting,” Safyre answered. “We wore them out yesterday, I’m afraid.”

“Oh.” I bit my lip, wondering if the elders would be able to continue today, and if not, what it would mean for our schedule.

“Don’t worry,” Safyre said, sensing my concern. “Sulan and Duggar have come up with a workaround. Oursk and some of the other wolves will assist with operating the Rings today. We’ll make the deadline.”

“Ah. That’s good.”

Adriel stirred her bowl listlessly. “How did your own tasks go yesterday?”

“The stygian’s siege of the Draven portal has been lifted,” I reported. “The overlord’s escorts have been defeated and the Power itself is fleeing north.”

“Fleeing?” Adriel asked, looking up in surprise.

I nodded. “Correct. It refused to engage me at all.”

Safyre’s eyes narrowed. “What do you make of that?”

“There’s only one possible explanation,” I replied grimly, then went on to relay my thoughts on the matter. “Not only must we assume the stygians are in constant communication with one another,” I concluded, “but we must also expect them to adapt quickly to any future tactics we employ.”

“Damn,” Adriel muttered as Anriq set a bowl down in front of me.

“Damn indeed,” I agreed.

“What about your new form?” Safyre asked. A teasing note entered her voice as she glanced at the werewolf standing behind me. “Anriq couldn’t stop gushing over it.”

“I wasn’t gushing,” he replied stiffly.

Adriel raised one eyebrow. “Then what would you call it?”

“I…” Flushing red, the youth ran aground.

Chuckling, I came to his rescue. “Oh, it performed admirably.” I took a sip of Shael’s broth. It was surprisingly excellent. “In fact,” I went on, dabbing my lip, “I expect my wolf form will prove instrumental in today’s battle.”

The gazes of both women slid my way. “What battle?” Adriel asked warily.

“The one against the overlord, of course,” I replied. “We can still intercept it before it reaches the stygian nest in the north.” If that’s where it was going. I had only conjecture to go on, but I didn’t think I was mistaken about the stygian Power’s destination.

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Safyre and Adriel exchanged glances. “Shouldn’t we leave well enough alone?” the aetherist asked. “I mean if it’s retreating…”

“No,” I replied firmly. “The overlord has to die.” I held her gaze. “And you know why.”

Biting her lip, Safyre looked away.

“Are you sure about this?” Adriel asked. “You said yourself the stygians are adapting. What if—”

“The tactics we employ will be different this time,” I interjected.

The lich didn’t look reassured. “But what if something goes wrong?” She gestured to the Astral Rings at the far end of the cave. “I won’t be able to break off the rehoming ritual and come to your aid.” She frowned. “If you’re dead set on going ahead, maybe it’s better if I accompany Safyre and you.”

I shook my head. “That won’t be necessary.” I glanced behind her. “And besides, we won’t be alone.”

Adriel took my meaning at once. “You will take the nagians with you?”

I sensed Lucius, Bacheus, Zekiel, and the others stiffen with interest, but it was to Adriel whom I directed my response. “Yes.”

“So soon?” she asked.

Although she didn’t elaborate further, I knew what she’d left unsaid: did I trust the former possessed enough to take them into battle.

“They will have to prove themselves first, of course,” I said, addressing the nagians directly this time.

“How?” Zekiel asked, stepping forward eagerly.

I pointed to Ghost. “Pass her truth test.”

Bacheus’ gaze fixed on the pyre wolf. “Your familiar is a truthsayer?”

“You could say that,” I replied. “Answer all my questions forthrightly and without deceit while Ghost probes your thoughts, and I promise that not only will you have my trust, but you will be treated as full and valued members of the Forerunners.” Scanning the nagians’ faces, I tried to gauge their reaction, but their expressions remained as opaque as ever. “Do we have a deal?”

Lucius nodded. “Yes.”

I rose to my feet. “Good, then let’s be about it. We still have a battle to fight today.”

✵ ✵ ✵

You have accepted Lucius, a non-player, into the Forerunners faction.

You have accepted Bacheus, a non-player, into the Forerunners faction.

You have accepted Zekiel, a non-player, into the Forerunners faction.

…

…

All ten nagians passed Ghost’s test, which was hardly surprising given that Adriel had started with those she deemed most trustworthy. After I took their oaths, we went over my plan for the overlord.

“So what does everyone think?” I asked when I was done.

“It’s a bit unorthodox,” Bacheus admitted.

“But a sound plan nonetheless,” Zekiel added.

Lucius nodded. “We can make it work.”

I glanced at Safyre, Shael, and Anriq. The bard and werewolf would also be joining us on today’s venture—more for the experience than anything else. Only Adriel—who was already hard at work rehoming more possessed—was staying behind with the wolves.

Safyre cast me a wry look. “Don’t look at us. We’re well-used to these crazy schemes of yours by now.”

I threw her an answering grin. “Good, then since we’re all agreed, let me get going.”

“One second,” the aetherist said, holding out her hand. “Before you leave, put this on.”

Curiously, I took the pair of items she held out for me. The first was familiar, the second less so.

You have acquired a Forerunner bracelet from the council farspeaker set.

You have acquired a Forerunner collar from the council farspeaker set.

Both the collar and bracelet may only be worn by members of the Forerunner faction. Likewise, only faction members may discern their properties.

“You did it!” I exclaimed. “You faction-locked them! How?”

Safyre smiled. “I had some help,” she said, glancing at Bacheus. “He is quite the enchanter.”

The nagian bowed. “You honor me, milady.”

I shook my head, bemused. ”But why change this one into a collar? I don’t need a separate device for my wolf form. My equipped items still—”

Safyre laughed. “It’s not for you!”

“Not for me?” Finally, realizing what she meant, I glanced at the pyre wolf at my side. “It’s for Ghost?”

“Correct,” she replied. “While technically Ghost is not a player, as your familiar she can use Game items, which means she is as capable of joining the farspeaker link as you are.”

I rubbed my chin. “That makes… sense, actually.”

“Of course it does,” Safyre said with a grin. Kneeling before Ghost, she held out her hand for the collar. “May I?”

Handing it back to her, I watched as Safyre gently clasped the device around the pyre wolf’s neck while I put on my own bracelet.

Ghost has unequipped shadow’s friend and has equipped a Forerunner collar, joining the council farspeaker link.

You have unequipped a Sintar bracelet and have equipped a Forerunner bracelet, joining the council farspeaker link.

Almost on the exact instant, the bracelet closed around my arm, a mindvoice, shockingly loud, reverberated across the farspeaker link.

“THANK YOU, SAFYRE!”

From across me, I noticed Shael and Anriq wince. They, too, it seemed, had the modified bracelets. Safyre, though, betrayed no adverse reaction to the pyre wolf’s exuberant words.

“You’re welcome, Ghost,” she said softly. “It’s nice to finally hear you.”

“And you too!” the pyre wolf replied, her tail wagging furiously. “Can you believe this, Prime? I can finally talk to everyone!”

“Almost everyone,” I corrected gently. Being non-players, neither the nagians nor Adriel could use the farspeaker link, but the lich already had her own means of communicating with Ghost, and I suspected some of the nagians were equally capable of telepathic communication.

Which reminds me.

“Did any of you overhear that?” I asked aloud, and even though I’d directed the question to the nagians at large, it was on Zekiel on whom my gaze rested. As a psi knight, he’d no doubt invested heavily in psi skills.

The nagian did not miss my look. “I presume you mean the mental conversation you and the others just conducted over your farspeaker link?”

I nodded mutely.

“I did not,” Zekiel replied.

Shael frowned. “Then how did you know they were speaking?”

Glancing at him, the golem shrugged. “I guessed. The farspeaker bracelets and the Wolf’s earlier words made obvious what was going on.” He turned back to me. “You are worried about how secure your farspeaker link is?”

“I am,” I admitted.

“Don’t be,” Bacheus said firmly. “All farspeaker bracelets are sophisticated magical devices. Penetrating their protections requires a telepathy skill of at least tier seven.”

My brows furrowed. “Tier seven? That’s a—”

“—Power level skill,” Zekiel finished for me. “Which is why the risk of being overheard is minimal. Even amongst the new Powers, I imagine, there can’t be many capable of eavesdropping on a farspeaker link.”

Ghost who up to this point had only been following the conversation with half an ear sat up attentively. “But didn’t you overhear those two thieves’ mental sending, Prime?” she asked, confused. “How did you manage that?”

It was the exact same question I was pondering.

“Are you sure—” I began, then closed my mouth as realization set in. My baseline telepathy was only at tier five, but I also had an almost-forgotten trait that boosted its power by forty percent.

The mental focus trait. That’s how I did it.

Running some quick calculations in my mind, I realized my effective telepathy had likely already been in the low three hundreds at the time.

Damn. No wonder, I managed to eavesdrop on Sintar’s farspeaker link.

Safyre lay a hand on my arm, dragging me away from my musings. “Michael? Is everything alright?”

I smiled to show her it was. “Sorry, just got a bit distracted there.” I handed her the old, unenchanted farspeaker bracelet. “I suppose you’ll want this?”

She nodded. “Yes. Bacheus and I will modify it tonight and add it to the new council network.”

“Well then,” I said, turning about to address everyone, “Now that we’ve got all that out of the way, shall we begin?”

There were no objections.

I glanced back at Safyre. “Then if it pleases you, milady,” I said in a teasing tone that mimicked Bacheus’ earlier words, “open the portal and I’ll be on my way.”