Several Bloodbeaks dropped into divebombs, rushing to enter the narrow areas of the cliff Rep and Zalan were located within. Zalan threw more bolts of lightning at the monsters, hoping to strike a few down before they got close enough to attack. To his surprise, they were more agile than his first encounter, tilting away from his electricity and screeching.
“They’re faster now?” Zalan asked.
“Perhaps a result of them fearing for their young.” Rep motioned to the nests with a twist of his head.
Zalan realized just how right Rep was about his guess. The Bloodbeaks were coming in too rapidly. They were able to dodge his attacks well, but at the speed they came, there was no chance they would be able to pull up from hitting the ground. They had gone crazy in an effort to protect the nests.
The first of the Bloodbeaks made it into the cracks atop the cliffside to attack the friends. Rep ran forward with his blade straight up and sliced a Bloodbeak in half with a swish of his wrist. He smiled at the result and parried the next one, his Strength easily overwhelming their foes. Now that they were much closer, Zalan let loose several more blasts of lightning. He didn’t even care to aim anymore so long as his rate of fire was enough. The struck monsters were falling like flies, but several filled in the spaces whenever one was killed. Zalan was having a hard time keeping up and one slammed down right next to him, a toothy maw bared open for him. It missed with its jagged teeth, but one of its large wings slapped him enough force to throw him off balance.
“Are you hurt?” Rep asked between slices of his blade.
“No, but there are a ton of them! What do we do?” Zalan asked.
“We should fight our way out of the nests and move to higher ground. They may leave us be when they see their eggs are safe.”
“I was the one that said we should get out of here earlier!”
“I am allowed to change my mind!” Rep responded quickly.
Rep and Zalan sliced, burned, and zapped their way further up the pathways. Stark shadows jutted out from dead monsters and rock faces, each of their attacks a disorienting shine. It occurred to Zalan that he wasn’t struggling very hard, even with the excessive number of monsters. Level 5 felt a pretty good place to be, especially with someone Level 6 at his side. He thought back to the Razortongues they fought in the Castle Docrun. He was confident they would be able to take the whole nest if all five of them were at Levels Five and Six.
Rep and Zalan were able to pass through the onslaught of Bloodbeaks unscathed, killing anything that got too close. They hadn’t even lost their breath. Zalan was impressed by his own strength, once again grateful to have lightning at his fingertips.
As soon as Rep and Zalan turned a corner away from the nests, the Bloodbeaks stopped chasing after them, instead going back to check on the eggs. Zalan found it both odd and fascinating how similar these monsters were to animals.
“Any injuries?” Rep asked Zalan, looking him over.
“No, I’m good, what about you?”
“Nothing. And it seems we have just about reached the top,” Rep pointed ahead to an opening. They wouldn’t be in a confined space in a few more steps.
They climbed even higher up inland and found themselves on a flat plane of land. The sea could easily be seen on one side and flora atop the Cliffs of Shadow on the other. Zalan and Rep immediately ducked down when they saw what lay at the top. There was an entire meadow of Nightbloom under an outcropping of rock which kept them in perpetual shade. But between the two travelers and the flower they sought was also an entire tribe of Boznoks. There were dozens mingling, walking between huts and casually conversing in their confusing language. They even saw the one carrying the massive Bloodbeak egg, showing it off to other members of the tribe.
“These things are everywhere,” Zalan complained.
“Indeed. But remember we are intruding on their home, it is expected to find a large group of them,” Rep said.
Zalan blinked a few times in astonishment at the comment. The term “home” didn’t sound like it applied to monsters. They had “nests,” “dens,” or maybe even “pits.” Boznoks were monsters, just like any other. They were a grotesque combination of a bull and a man and often were quick to hunt humans. They also gave Experience whenever killed, which was a clear indication that they were a monster. But whenever Zalan found his way to a Boznok dwelling, his friends talked about them like there was a touch of humanity within the creatures.
Zalan conflated the two ideas in his head. A humane monster like a Boznok and ones that protected its young like Bloodbeaks. It was exactly the kind of creature that Zalan needed when he was thinking about how to define Morloch. Maybe he was a monster like a Boznok or a Bloodbeak. A monster that had some sort of understanding of mercy or tenderness.
“I am thinking that we could sneak past them all, grab the Nightbloom, and use the Homeseeker. We would return to Oriton before they even realized we were in the area,” Rep offered.
“The Homeseeker takes a few seconds to charge up. You think they won’t notice while we suddenly start glowing black?” Zalan asked.
“Fair point. What else can you think of?”
Zalan thought for a few seconds, running a bruise-ridden hand through his hair. He had almost forgotten he had taken injuries from the Earthenbeasts when he fought so well against the Bloodbeaks. A thought popped into his head that he was inclined toward, but he shook his head to himself.
Stolen novel; please report.
“I have an idea, but I don’t think you’ll like it.”
“What is it?”
“I wanna offer them something. Make a trade with them and hope they’re willing to trade back with some flowers,” Zalan said, a hopeful smile on his lips.
Rep scrunched his face as he looked at Zalan.
“You wish to bargain with the monsters?” Rep clarified, clearly not on board.
“You were the one saying that we were in their home. If they have a concept of homes and mercy and stuff, what about trade?” Zalan suggested.
“I was saying that to remind you that they would be extra vicious if they thought we were attacking their homes. I did not say they were our friends.”
“But have you tried trading with them before? Or talking with them?”
“Not really, considering their negotiations often begin business with them swinging weapons in my face,” Rep scoffed.
“Let me just try!”
“Why? It sounds incredibly foolish. You would have to declare yourself to them and be at their mercy,” Rep pointed out.
“I know, but I just need to know,” Zalan insisted, wringing his hands.
“Why?”
“I need to know!”
The truth was that Zalan was hoping that any monster had the concept of negotiation within it. If Boznoks were willing to communicate and create a deal, then maybe it was possible to do the same with Morloch. Morloch was called a manipulator, so he would probably be someone that talked a lot. Zalan hoped that instead of having to kill Morloch, he could battle and defeat him on other terms. Strike some sort of negotiation or break him in a philosophical argument. Any kind of option where battling him didn’t mean to kill him.
Rep scrutinized Zalan closely.
“What if they deem to attack you first, without waiting to hear you out?”
“Gorb and Fran were around our Levels and they took on like ten Boznoks by themselves. And they didn’t know how to imbue themselves,” Zalan replied confidently.
“I do not wish to slaughter them in their own homes when we can simply go around them.”
“We won’t be killing them, we’ll be trading,” Zalan assured him.
Rep looked unconvinced, but could see the adamance in Zalan’s pressed lips.
“Very well. But at least tell me what you plan to do,” Rep said.
“What kind of food do we have? We know they like eggs.”
“Monster eggs,” Rep corrected.
“Right, then what if I offer them some…” Zalan trailed, a contemplative hesitation in his eyes.
“What?”
“I was gonna say gold. But I don’t have any left,” Zalan shrugged, patting his pocket where his money would be.
Zalan began to stare at Rep with a strange intent in his eyes. Rep blinked at him quizzically, then came to an annoyed conclusion.
“You would like to borrow some of my money to give to monsters?” Rep concluded, deadpan.
“I’ll pay you back.”
“You just admitted you have no money.”
“I’ll pay you back in some other way.”
Rep bit his upper lip in thought. Then he shook his head to himself and sighed.
“This is foolish. Fine. But give me the Homeseeker. If I see things going badly, I wish to immediately activate it. I will not wait for you to try and recover a lost cause,” Rep said.
“Sounds good to me,” Zalan said, handing him the Artifact. “Can I get like five gold coins?”
“Five!?” Rep repeated, appalled.
“I thought five was a good amount! How many more do you want to give them?”
“I think one would suffice!”
“What’s the difference when you have so many?”
“You seem to forget a gold coin’s value. A single gold coin is worth one hundred bronze coins. Or ten silver. This is no small number.” Rep held up the coin.
“All right, what about three gold coins?”
“Did you not just hear me?”
“I’m trying to make a good deal for them! What if they’re ready to try and hustle me because I’m probably going to come off as desperate. Three gold for some flowers and they won’t have room to ask for more,” Zalan explained.
“If they care to speak to you at all,” Rep grumbled, putting the three gold coins in Zalan’s open palm.
Zalan looked down at the three coins and swallowed hard. He really wasn’t confident that this plan would work. But he had to know. This was the difference between having to kill Morloch and being able to defeat him some other way. Zalan stood up, no longer hidden from any Boznoks, if only they looked in his direction. Rep stood up as well, holding the Homeseeker tightly in a trembling hand.
“Hello!” Zalan said, holding both arms up in a show of pacifism.
“What are you doing?” Rep snapped, the Boznoks having immediately reacted.
“I didn’t want to spook them if we showed up out of nowhere.”
Boznoks began shoving one another to direct attention to the two humans. Zalan continued to step forward slowly. He revealed the three gold coins and pointed to them as he progressed.
“I’m looking to trade! I have gold! I just want some of the flowers,” Zalan called, his words slow and clear.
Riling themselves up, the Boznoks reacted loudly to the display. They began shouting to one another in bull-like grunts, communicating and goading one another to charge forward. A quick battalion formed, armed with axes and warhammers. They lacked the thicker metal armor that Boznoks normally traveled in, but they had light fur armors that were faster to put on. Swallowing hard, Zalan tried to subdue the fact he was intimidated.
“They are coming to attack,” Rep said, placing a hand on his sword. His other hand thumbed the activation switch for the Homeseeker.
“Wait,” Zalan said sharply. “They aren’t charging, they’re just getting prepared. It would be a lot more clear if they jumped straight to attacking us. They might simply not trust humans.”
“Which is precisely why this was a bad idea!”
“They’re just being cautious! Plus, well, it’s too late to change plans. There’s no way we’re sneaking around them now. Let me just try to talk with one.”
Zalan had no idea how the conversation would go, if they would even have one. Rep’s grip tightened on his hilt, his other hand placed lightly over the button to activate the Homeseeker. Ten Boznoks were armed and approaching Rep and Zalan, teeth bared and anger on their faces.