Rats Among Beasts II

When was the last time I've been outside the city? It was probably back when I worked as a farmhand. That may have sucked ass, but it was leagues better than this shit. I certainly wasn't inspected for contraband. Despite being only one of two carriages at the city gates and carrying the princess, the fuckers inspecting city traffic are taking an absurd amount of time searching for something that isn't there. They're really expecting to catch the princess for contraband? Maybe they're simply pretending to work hard to keep their jobs.

At least the binds around my wrists are loosely tied. But that also means I have to maintain a decent grip on them to keep them in place. Ugh, this whole situation just sucks.
Finally, the inspector hops out of the carriage and bows. "Just being thorough my liege. You may proceed."

Finally. Our entourage of royal knights and templars swiftly mount their horses and we're off towards Spire's edge, the town Stoler's sister is currently staying in. As we exit the gates, my vision is graced by the back of a carriage and flanked on both sides by horse-drawn ballistae. What a view. This is already old and we've only just begun our day long journey. I can scarcely steal glances at the expansive farmland through the spikes on the ballistae's wagon. I get that the spikes are there to prevent gryphons from attacking the ballista, but how do they shoot through them? Maybe the spike just bends around the bolt?
At least I can see the arch trees of Lunatic's Spires though that's not really a comfort considering the stories and dark aura surrounding that place. I imagine anyone in the world can see these trees. I swear, they must penetrate the farthest reaches of the sky. Despite dwarfing any tower I've ever seen, the branches remain deathly still. As though wind can't fly that high. Though the leaves are green, they don't mask the fact that the wood is unnaturally dark and... Twisted. They remind me of a human story about demons and their dark hands reaching for the Sun, only to be petrified for their envy. I wonder if this is what inspired those old poets.

"I thought the rumors about elves an' trees was a myth. But 'ere ya are. Ogling trees." Naz is walking alongside me doing the same thing.

I turn to look down at him while walking. "No, I'm just concerned since we'll be passing by Lunatic's Spires."

He raises a fuzzy eyebrow. "What's the issue with that?"

He doesn't know? "Oh right. I forget you're a foreigner. Essentially, if you're looking to live, Lunatic's Spires is the worst place you can go."

Maheed leans in and whispers, as though speaking were prohibited. "How does the town survive if the forest is so dangerous?"

I shrug. "I don't get it either. Traders that come from the Spire's edge always say that the beasts and monsters that populate the Spires never leave the forest."

Wal, without taking his eyes off the road, asks, "Could it be that the beasts from the Spires are beginning to venture out?"

I shake my head. "I doubt it. There's no way the survivors could mistake the monsters from the Spires for common beasts. Besides, if they did leave, they'd attack the town first."

Wal nods. "Understandable."

One of the knights riding beside us began to chat with us. "My buddy was telling me about some of those monsters. Rumor is that some of them can use magic."

Another knight refuted. "That's just a woman's tale to scare their children."

I chimed back in. "My friend from the town was telling me the same thing. At first I though he was bullshitting me until the chosen of Sol cooked me with his damn hand. Now I think he may have been telling the truth."

One of the knights laughed. "Shit, that was you? Hey, did you really try to escape by jumping through a wall?"

"Jump through it? No, that would be ridiculous. I tore the whole wall down." As I recount my escape, I make sure to add some exaggerations to make the chase sound more epic and funnier than it actually was.
This is a good way to gain some respect and trust of the knights. Though I'm not sure I'll ever need it. Once they've finished asking about my escapades, I take the first chance to ask about their stories. Not because I care of course. The group proceeds to boast about previous battles, among other achievements. Naz seamlessly inserted himself into the conversation while Maheed and Wal just listened. Our envoy tried to include them, but Maheed had nothing to share and Wal only answered in immediate blunt answers.

A large portion of our journey is spent exchanging stories, cracking jokes, and speculating on the glorious fight ahead. Not sure I'd call it glorious but since they're so excited, I'll play along.

Before the start of mid-day our envoy constructs camp before the shadow of mount Reydarent overwhelms us. I scan the area, searching for our envoy. Looks like the knights and templars are both sitting around the fire they've constructed. Just far enough away where they wouldn't hear us if we were to speak normally. Aroura seems to be the only person nearby, but she's currently in the carriage doing whatever so she won't be able to hear us if we speak quietly. Perfect.

I hate to lose two good assets like this, but they don't belong here. I gather Wal and Naz, then nudge Maheed towards us then whisper, "When the fighting starts, you two will escape. Wal and I have our own reasons for staying with Solaris, but you two don't."
I direct my whispers towards Wal. "Will you help me ensure their escape?"

He nods and growls, "If they so desire."

Naz speaks softly. "I appreciate it, Segugek. Truly. But I can't accept. Not again."

Again? For whatever reason that pisses me off. I turn to Maheed. "Since the old man's gone senile you have nothing slowing you down."

As usual, he stammers over himself. "Ah, well. Umm. But I don't know where I'm going."

I can't help but sigh. "Right."

"I thought you'd be the first one to run for the hills. Why the change of heart?"

Wal and Maheed offer their agreement. I'm not sure I should tell them. Maheed is the only one I can fully trust. Wal hasn't sold me out to Stoler because he's only loyal to Aroura. If I were to reveal my dealings with Nick, he'd snitch to the princess for sure. Naz is a bit of a mystery. Perhaps I'll reveal half a truth. "I can't leave my family behind. There are still things I need to see through."

Wal narrows his eyes. "And how do you plan to accomplish that from your cell?"

"I don't know. Haven't figured it out yet."

"You're a better man than I was at yer age. In one aspect. Yer arrogant enough as is, don't need that getting any worse."
Naz obviously wants to talk about something. Instead of responding, I just give him a quizzical look. "I spent too much of mi life running and it left mi with no friends, no family, and no home. That ain't no way to live. I figure now's my chance to slow down."

Maheed asks "But... If you knew it was bad, why didn't you stop?"

Naz laughs once. "It's best to think of dwarves as tiny mountains kid. No use trying to change what will always be."

"Hmpf. Some mountain you turned out to be. All it took was a few iron bars and you changed like water."

He gives me an annoyed look. "That's all shovels and picks are Segugek. Iron bars shaped into tools."

Before we could get too lost in the analogy, the carriage door opens and Aroura comes strolling out, obviously groggy. "Good day rangers. You've not eaten have you?"

I answer. "No, we haven't."

We've got nothing else but moments. She opens one of the storage doors on the carriage and rummages around for a sack of crackers. "Rations for the hungry."

Yet another strange behaviour for royalty. Naz sings her praises. "Thank you Tavi. Your kindness rivals a happy barmaid."

She waves her hand. "Think nothing of it. I've always desired to share a meal with dear friends."

Before biting into my surprisingly terrible ration I say, "The woman can have any friends in the world and she chooses some anti-social animals, and old codger, and a renegade greyskin. You sure know how to pick 'em."

"You are preferable over the endlessly trite gossip of the legion of noble borne ladies who vie for my affection. With so much venom lurking behind every word, it's a wonder they share secrets at all! If not for my station, I've no doubt they would tear into my eccentricities without hesitation and with such glee one could hear their cackling from the farms!"
She holds out her hand as though offering an exception. "Summer is a delightful exception, yet seldom have we the chance to chat."
She's friends with the chosen? Interesting, but I don't see how this can be used. Not yet anyway.

I turn to the rangers. "Get a load of this gossiper, guys. Dose she even talk about anything else?"

She playfully cries, "Oh I've become dreadfully boring, haven't I? Oh, master of conversation please show me how it's done."

I wave my cracker around as I say, "Currently, the only thing on my mind is the shockingly terrible taste of these rations."

They all look at me confused for a moment. "Terribly dull perhaps, but 'tis not a bad flavour."

The rangers agree. "Aye. If anything it's got no flavour at all."

"What? Naz, give me yours."

"Not a chance! I don't want yer shitty ration."

Wal releases a growling sigh. "Here. Now hand yours over."

We exchange rations and just as I expected, it still tastes like ass. Fuck, I miss my atels.

Once the Sun was freed from the Western mountains and light shone on the land once more, our envoy made for Spire's Edge. Second day was more of the same with the knights, only now more intensity weighed on their words. It didn't kill their excitement. If anything, their joy only grew. By the time we reached Spire's Edge, it had been 'dusk' for hours because the ever-looming arch trees now block all sunlight. The town welcomed our envoy with open arms.

The town must be used to the darkness. I expected a good portion of the town would be asleep by now, but the freshly lit street lanterns and bustling crowd come to see the princess tells me otherwise. I can't exactly see what's happening, but it sounds like Stoler's sister found us thanks to the crowd. Seems as though she's been staying with the town lord who has invited our envoy to spend the night at his manor.

It takes little time for the carriage to wade through the crowd and arrive in the relatively safe gates of the town lord. The horses and the rangers are permitted to sleep in the stables. Before we can rest, however, Both Chosen of Sol wished to speak with us and the princess. Stoler was first to demand our attention. "Heretics. You haven't the luxury of rest just yet."

We stand. "Chosen of Sol. What would you have of us?"

"A discussion is required. The targets of our adversary's aggression will be directed towards you after all." Summer says, in her monotone voice I certainly haven't missed. The gentle, yet irritating, smile locked to her face hasn't changed either.

"I thought the plan was straightforward. When the 'beasts' launch their attack, drop our binds, grab our weapons, and protect her majesty. What is there to discuss?"

Stoler crosses his arms. "What are you going to do if a gryphon swoops her majesty away? Or a bear decides it wishes to maul her?"

"If there are too many gryphons, we'll fall back to the ballistae. If a bear attacks we'll fend it off until her majesty can pierce it with a spell."

Aroura puts a hand to her heart. "I am joyed you have such confidence in my magics."
Shit. There's a caveat here... "Unfortunately I am not so well versed in the art of combat as the Chosen of Sol. Mistake me not, I can utilize my gift as a weapon as lethal as any mage. It simply takes time to reach that lethality."

I put a hand to my chin. "How long? Would you demonstrate?"

She nods. We walk to the manor's yard where Stoler provides a light and Aroura channels magic. Aroura takes a breath and puts her hands together. She slowly pulls them apart leaving a stream of water in their wake. With one hand, she holds the water in place while the other swirls around it forming the water into more of a spike. The process takes more than a full minute before she launches the spike into the darkness. She turns to me slowly, clearly ashamed. "It takes even longer if I wish to assail multiple foes at once."

Hmm... By the time she finishes one spell, we could be long dead. We'll need a more reliable attack then. "How much water can you control at once?"

"I am uncertain."

"Create as much as you can as fast as you can, then swing it around."

She looks a tad confused before attempting it. She creates a huge blob of water, almost the size of a house in half a minute, then as she swings it around, much of it is lost to the grass until it becomes about the size of the carriage. What's most impressive, however is the speed. She can swing it all the way around her in little more than a second at what is almost ten meters away. And so effortlessly! I ask, "Is this taxing?"

She shakes her head. "I chose to summon water for it's utility and low mana requirement. Only the act of creation takes effort and water is among the most inexpensive."

"So you don't have to worry about mana usage?"

"Hardly. Keeping it at this distance is draining my concentration however. I can focus on naught else. As an example."
She moves one hand away from the blob she's created. Her now free hand pours water into an imaginary bucket. Except this bucket might as well be a fish net. She explains, "I'm simply unable to hold more than a single spell at any time."

In spite of her limited ability, I can't help but to be in awe. "Amazing."
I break out of my memorized state and continue the test. "Launch it. Next I want you to knock me to my ass with your magic."
When she launched it, it disappeared into the night, but I could tell it didn't go far before falling apart and raining over the mud. I run into the field a decent distance away, just out of her previous range, then yell to her. "I'm going to rush you. Knock me over before I get there."

As soon as she nods I dash for her. With both hands behind her back, I watch the large block of water forming. But not fast enough. With two steps left, she smashes her barrel of water into my face! I stagger in place and blast the water out of my nose before taking the last steps and grabbing her arm. "Let's go again! You've got this."

I sprint back out to the same spot and try again. Looks like she's going for the same attack again. At two steps away, she blasts a surprisingly small amount of water in my face- Whoa!
I splat face first into the mud. She used the small bit to distract me while most of it swept my feet! Ha! Haha! I spring up and grab her shoulders. "Aroura! That's perfect! So long as you disorient our enemies, your rangers can kill them with ease!"

She laughs at my childish excitement. "You believe so?"

"Absolutely! This is astounding! Can you keep at it? There are other things I want to try."
She nods. Perfect. "Wal, Naz. Protect her while Maheed and I try to get at her."

"Hold it."
Ah fuck. I forgot they were here. Stoler marches closer and states, "Before you get too carried away, we would tell you where we'll be. You need know where the templars and knights will fight."

"Right."
I bend a knee to the princess. "I must apologize your excellence. Forgive me for my forwardness. I was simply excited at the prospect of magic."

"It is of no consequence. You remind me much of myself when I first began training. As long as it nary happens again, you are forgiven."

I have to contain myself. I can't slip up in front of others again. For her reputation if nothing else. "Of course. Should we listen to the Chosen of Sol then?"

Her scarred smile forms as she accepts. "Let's."