Chapter 86 – Summoned

‘“It’s all crap,” Hannah called out to Jack. He was on the ground, alternating lazy sips from a health potion and a cup of mead. He stared up at what was turning into a swarm of crows in the sky above.

“Even the spear?” Jack asked.

“See for yourself,” Hannah said, walking over to Jack and tossing him the spear.

Jack caught the iron spear and gave it an inspection, a small frown growing on his face.

Trapped Iron Spear

Type: Soul Linked Weapon

Tier: Rare

Enchantment Slots:4/4

[Tampering - 3 Slots]

When touched by anyone other than the person this weapon is soul linked with, a volatile explosion will be released from the weapon. Recharge time 1 day.

[Self Repair - 1 Slot]

As long as 50% of the item remains, it will pull on surrounding mana to repair any damage.

I wouldn’t touch this if I were you…

“This thing sucks. I thought it had something that let him control it with his mind.”

“Maybe he had an ability that let him control it?” Hannah offered, taking it back and storing it in her void sack.

“Anything else good?”

“Not really. The mage had a frost staff and the rogue and warrior had some uncommon gear. Here, feed the armor to your pet.” She finished, digging a smattering of armor out of her void sack and tossing it to Jack.

Jack watched as his bracer morphed into a black blob and crawled over to the smattering of armor with mostly [Self-Repair] Enchants or the occasional piece with a +1 dexterity bonus or +1 Vitality on a bracer or chest piece. He gave the shadow blob another inspection as it crawled back up and turned itself back into a pair of bracers, but there appeared to be absolutely no change.

“I’m starting to think armor is a revenge prank by Onem so I would waste all the armor we find on it. Nothing seems to be happening.”

“Didn’t you say it saved your ass like twice during the fight?”

Jack chewed on his tongue, staring at the bracers before he pushed himself up off the ground and looked at Hannah. She was right. The armor had been handy. He just wished he knew more about how it worked.

“So, Sam is with the U.F.E.” he said, changing the subject.

“I heard. Although I’m not sure I would trust Jimmy for shit. He could be anywhere for all we know. Should take us a few days to get back to civilization, provided nothing gets in our way. We’ll find him wherever he is.”

Jack nodded along at that, then looked up at the sky, back at the crows that had seemed to multiply.

“What the…” Hannah started to say as she looked up towards the sky where Jack was staring. The crows stopped their circling a moment later, turning hard in the sky until they were falling like tiny meteorites towards Jack and Hannah in dive-bomb fashion.

Hannah immediately pulled out three short bows and launched them into the air, holding firmly onto her crystalline bow as the crows slammed into the ground, exploding in black feathers and purple energy.

Jack twirled his daggers lazily in his hand as the crows continued slamming into the surrounding ground, never landing on top of them.

The purple haze slowly dissipated, revealing Crowen soldiers in their beak shaped masks and deep purple armor ornamented and lined with black feathers. They all carried variations of swords, some short, some long, and even a few had daggers that matched Jacks.

“Ready for round two?” Hannah asked.

“Eh…” Jack said, still feeling a little buzzed from the liquor.

Hannah began to weave another orb of hellfire in the skies above. Jack twirled his daggers in his hand and took several deep breaths, letting tension build up in his body as he prepared to attack.

“Please don’t do anything reckless.” A voice said from behind the group of the soldiers.

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Both Jack and Hannah turned to stare at the source of the voice. Two soldiers moved aside, revealing a well-dressed man in a silk robe of black and purple covered in elaborate filigree type patterns.

“Define reckless.” Hannah said, staring daggers at the new arrival. The man looked upwards towards the orb Hannah was forming and then down at Jack’s daggers.

“Attacking a battalion of highly trained Crowen special forces and the advisor to the king is what I would define as reckless.” He said in a haughty, almost sarcastic tone.

“Explain.” She said, lowering her bow slightly.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Thadius Ondfauxt. Advisor to the All-Seeing Crow, ruler of the realm, King Reynard Crowen.” He said, taking a small bow.

“Fancy-“ Jack started.

“Your name isn’t an explanation.” Hannah said, cutting Jack off. “Why do you have us surrounded by your so-called ‘special forces’” Hannah tried again.

Ondfauxt grimaced slightly as he looked at the surrounding soldiers.

“I do apologize. You must understand, the Xogon territory is filled with savages and I have had a simply atrocious time finding the two of you. You would not believe how many people flat out attacked me before I could ascertain their identities.”

“Oh, I’d believe you.” Hannah said, her smile growing vicious.

“Please, I mean you no harm. Are you the two known as Jack Atlas and Hannah Lawrence?”

Hannah re-leveled her bow at Ondfauxt, and Jack tightened his grip on his daggers as he watched the surrounding Crowen soldiers tense up preparing an attack of their own.

“Why?” Hannah asked matter of fact.

“Are you them?”

Hannah shot an arrow at the man’s feet in response, prompting several Crowen soldiers to launch forward. Jack had his daggers in the chest of one soldier before they could take another step closer. Hannah turned and aimed her bow at the orb of her mana hanging in the sky. Jack ripped out his daggers and turned to launch himself at the advisor.

“Stop.” Ondfauxt said in a tone that cut through the surrounding air. He produced a staff so fast that even Jack missed it. The advisor slammed it into the ground, and purple chains erupted out of the ground, wrapping themselves tightly around every soldier.

Jack pulled up just short of the advisor. Hannah shifted her aimed charge shot from the orb back to Ondfauxt.

“Explain what you want with Hannah Lawrence and Jack Atlas.” Hannah growled from behind her bow.

“Cursed climbers, always attacking without proper provocation.” Ondfauxt grumbled under his breath.

“Excuse me?” Hannah said, pumping more mana into an already menacing charge shot.

“I’d just tell her, dude. She won’t think twice about blowing your head off.” Jack offered.

“If you are, in fact, Jack Atlas and Hannah Lawrence. The king has requested your presence. He would like to attain your services in the war against the U.F.E.” Ondfauxt finally said.

“Why?”

“Yea. How does he even know about us?” Jack followed up.

“Our network runs deep. Did you honestly think you could acquire three keys to the Dungeon of Xinnolath without us knowing?”

“I mean, yea, sort of?” Jack shrugged.

“Well, you can’t.” Ondfauxt said matter of fact. “Are the rumors true that the two of you cleared the secret dungeon of Gurthok yourselves?”

“We came out of the dungeon like thirty minutes ago. How are there already rumors?” Jack asked, confused.

“Intelligence told us two people matching the descriptions of Jack Atlas and Hannah Lawrence entered the dungeon. We’ve been watching this entire time. While your display against Jimmy Takashi and his band of mongrels was less than… inspiring, I still find myself believing you to be the two who conquered the dungeon, no?”

Jack spared a glance at Hannah. She scrunched up her face deep in thought, then looked over to Jack and gave a small nod.

“Our friend is missing. Supposedly, the U.F.E. took him. Are you able to confirm this?”

“Yes.” Ondfauxt said without the slightest of hesitation.

“You don’t even know-“

“Samuel Frost. Last seen leaving Xogon territory with Sameera Hawk, Lieutenant of the U.F.E. It’s believed he is currently a prisoner of war.” Ondfauxt said.

Jack lowered his weapons, sheathing them back in his belt. Hannah did the same. Ondfauxt, for his part, dismissed the chains binding his soldiers and several ran to help the one Jack had stabbed in the chest.

“We’ll meet with your king. But I can tell you right now we aren’t doing shit until we rescue Sammy.” Hannah said matter of fact.

“Oh, you won’t actually be meeting with the king.” Ondfauxt said with a small, almost condescending laugh. “You’ll be meeting with one of our… Mercenaries, I suppose you could call him?” He said, taking a considered look.

“Whoever it is, that’s where negotiations are starting. If he doesn’t help us, we don’t help you.”

“Tell me.” Jack asked, suddenly remembering something important. “Is Gideon fighting in the war?”

“He is…” Ondfauxt said, his face turning sour. “It’s part of the reason a search party was sent out for you. The king believes you will play a key part in slaying the Golden Dragon.”

Jack squinted at Ondfauxt.

“The king has a lot of faith in two people he’s never met.”

“Desperate times.” Ondfauxt grimace. “If it pleases you, we have a portal nearby. It’s taken me several weeks in this desolate wasteland to find you, and I am eager to return to the kingdom. I can fill you in on details of the war as we walk.” Ondfauxt said, tone almost pleading to get moving.

“Wait. I thought the nearest portal was… Where was that garrison we attacked again?” Jack asked, looking back at Hannah.

“Eaglestrike Garrison?” Ondfauxt answered. “Yes, that is the only available portal available to the general public. At least it was until the U.F.E. assumed full control of the garrison.” Ondfauxt grimaced. “However, the Crowen kingdom does have an extensive network of portals not available for public use. Namely, we have one to monitor each of the secret dungeons.”

“So, we don’t have to spend a week walking back to civilization?”

“We’ll all be sleeping in feathered beds by the evening.” Ondfauxt said with a longing smile.

Jack looked at Hannah, who just shrugged. At the very least, they would be getting a quick trip back. Then they could find Sam. Then they would kill Gideon.

“Looks like we’re going to war.” Jack grinned.