"So, how do you know the Lieutenant?"
"We bailed each other out of an encounter with a Frost Wyrm. I spent a week showing her around town and since then I've just followed her around."
"Why?"
The sea breeze was strong but she was still warm from the sun. It reminded her of summer in the mountains. Ishylde had let her flaxen hair out of its usual braid so she could enjoy the full experience. Some small voice in the back of her mind told her that being at the prow of the ship looking out across the rolling waves likely made her look quite beautiful. Alicea would have probably thought about that voice, but Ishylde was content to simply listen.
Zack had been following her around since he came aboard, although he hadn't actually worked up the nerve to talk to her until they'd left Marelle. She wasn't sure how old he was, but she felt older when she was around him. So she tolerated his small talk and his furtive glances, and enjoyed the little power she got from his attention.
But for once his question was actually valid. Why did she follow Alicea? Sure she was a solid warrior, and if her tactical advice both in the mountains and in Marelle was any indication she was also quite clever. But so was Hveglir, or Rhod, even Barret could form a decent plan if he had the time, and all were strong warriors, why did she follow Alicea when she'd never wanted to follow them?
When she were younger the response she'd have given would've been a simple 'because'. That wouldn't work now, and Zack was hardly as spell struck with Alicea as many of the warriors they'd commanded in Marelle. If anything he'd respond to that with some nonsense about how he was sure she could lead better. She had to answer somehow, he was begining to stare.
"I wanted an adventure, and she was on one."
"You know, WE could have an adventure. Just the two of us, some distant world with nothing to bother us, no war, no Ga-Vok, no bossy witch swinging her axes around telling us what to do."
"No, thank you. Besides we just left one of the planet's only spaceports, I doubt we'd have a chance to leave before we got to the Monastary anyways."
"Maybe you'll think about it?"
His eyes glimmered slightly as he made a desperate attempt to persuade her. She chose not to throw aside his affections just yet.
"Well, maybe."
He strode off gaily to the cabin, obviously thinking his efforts productive. She turned her thoughts back to the question. Why did she follow Alicea?
Friday, April 30, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Chapter Twenty-One, Waveblade
The people of Marelle thanked her for her help, and the Alicea made haste for the mainland. If Tasand had already begun his campaign it would only be a matter of time before the monastary would be attacked, and she would be needed in its defense.
She found Orion on the deck. He'd been ill-tempered and elusive the whole trip.
"Captain, what's been wrong with you? Something back in Marelle has affected you. I mean, it's not that I don't regret the loss of your crewmen, it's just that you need to move on."
"Did you see his sword? Tell me, what sort of enchantments did he have worked into it?"
"None, but it seems forged using some technique I've never seen before. I'd love a chance to work with it and see what I could actually do with a weapon like that."
"It's a waveblade. My family has passed down the secrets of their forging for generations, long before the Junlaerd. They defuse magic wherever wielded against it, with it in his hands Tasand will be able to block any spells he can respond to."
"How many has your family made?"
"We don't know. Maybe a few hundred, any before the Empire were destroyed by the Junlaerd in his battles with the Kingdom of Stone. Every family member has forged one at some point, this one is mine."
He drew a slightly curved, single-edged knife from a hidden scabbard at the back of his belt. He held up it up to the sunlight and she saw that the blade was tinted a metalic pink. The properties were exactly like tha blade Tasand had drawn in Marelle, unenchanted but strong.
"And your other family members?"
"I'm the only one left. When a Waveblade dies he's burned with his blade. Every last one of our blades was melted down with its owner, except Juline. Tasand is wielding my daughter's blade. I thought I was over it, but the idea of my daughter's killer being right here just..."
"You'll get your chance Orion. If you join us as we head back to the Monastary you have my word that we will fight Tasand again, and next time you'll have your chance."
"Very well. I'll come along."
She found Orion on the deck. He'd been ill-tempered and elusive the whole trip.
"Captain, what's been wrong with you? Something back in Marelle has affected you. I mean, it's not that I don't regret the loss of your crewmen, it's just that you need to move on."
"Did you see his sword? Tell me, what sort of enchantments did he have worked into it?"
"None, but it seems forged using some technique I've never seen before. I'd love a chance to work with it and see what I could actually do with a weapon like that."
"It's a waveblade. My family has passed down the secrets of their forging for generations, long before the Junlaerd. They defuse magic wherever wielded against it, with it in his hands Tasand will be able to block any spells he can respond to."
"How many has your family made?"
"We don't know. Maybe a few hundred, any before the Empire were destroyed by the Junlaerd in his battles with the Kingdom of Stone. Every family member has forged one at some point, this one is mine."
He drew a slightly curved, single-edged knife from a hidden scabbard at the back of his belt. He held up it up to the sunlight and she saw that the blade was tinted a metalic pink. The properties were exactly like tha blade Tasand had drawn in Marelle, unenchanted but strong.
"And your other family members?"
"I'm the only one left. When a Waveblade dies he's burned with his blade. Every last one of our blades was melted down with its owner, except Juline. Tasand is wielding my daughter's blade. I thought I was over it, but the idea of my daughter's killer being right here just..."
"You'll get your chance Orion. If you join us as we head back to the Monastary you have my word that we will fight Tasand again, and next time you'll have your chance."
"Very well. I'll come along."
Chapter Twenty, State of the Crew
"Why didn't you try to kill him when we had the chance? He was barely defended."
Alicea looked over at Barret and her other bodyguards. There were still bits of gore left in their thick beards from the battle. It seemed unlikely that the mountainfolk would bother to wash any of the mess out within the forseeable future.
"I could still hit him miss. If you want me too."
Ishylde had held back further, unlike many of the other archers her quiver was still full. Zack had set her up with an alchemically activated, enchanted quiver; she could refill it with her minor magical capacity and had no need to fear a depleted supply of ammunition like the other archers. Alicea had seen her in the battle launching her wyrm' bone arrows deep into the hearts of Ga-Vok still in their landing ships. All her doubts about how worthwhile the hunting of the dangerous beasts had left as she watched them pierce thick steel armor time and again.
Zack had gone to lie down, even with his vast array of trinkets and relics he'd found this long a battle exhausting. A mere sorceror like him was lucky to have survived the magical onslaught brought by the Blue Army's shaman, all battle tested and worn by life amongst the clans. Yet he had survived, and he had represented his family well with his clever machinations and carefully woven spells. What Zack lacked in strength he made up for with a keen and intuitive mind.
Alicea brushed some grime off of her Leather bracers, she could see the fur mixed into the blood and powdered stone. The townspeople had fought hard, and they'd been confident of victory right up through the last wave. But she knew how little chance they would have had if Tasand had continued his assault, and how few troops he'd actually commited to the assault. At any time he could have ended it. Casabal had been little better defend than Marelle was, and he had overrun the walls in a mere two hours from the time they commenced the assault. Few Nielda could have known of his victory there, but Alicea could discern from todays victory that the greatest General of the Ga-Vok army had held back. He'd thrown the battle, few warriors would ever commit so great an offense against their leader.
"He'd have granted us the same privelige. He didn't come to talk to us, he came to make a point to his officers. We're just tools to his genius."
"You mean, he lost and he still us? That jerk."
"I think the General and the Alpha have had some sort of falling out. He threw the battle, and the advisor he executed was the Alpha's representative, and spy I suspect."
"He what?"
"He threw the fight. Look at the fleet, don't you see the smoke stacks just behind them? He purposefully hid his numbers so we'd underestimate him, make us more confident of our chances. But that means he has potentially thousands more troops he could still commit to the battle if he wanted to, we barely withstood that last wave. And the retreat; I don't know why he pulled back when he did, but he did. We could have repelled those ships as it was, because of the tricks we'd kept up our sleeves, but we wouldn't have withstood the one that followed. For whatever reason, he didn't want to win. I think there might be something going on in the top brass of the Confederacy."
"How do you know all this stuff? How'd you know who this," Jod nudged the still feebly gasping advisor with the butt of his splintered spear, "Was a representative of their Alpha?"
Alicea looked over at Orion. Her companions had heard him talking Vokil before, she could say he'd translated for her. He had fought hard, even though several of his crew had fallen in the fight. The crew of the Juline had been a valuable asset in the battle, holding their ground in the thick of the fray. But he seemed out of himself since General Tasand had assaulted the Ga-Vok advisor now being dragged to the town jail by a few of the citizens. She chose to allow him some time to clear his mind of whatever troubles may have flooded it.
"My father taught me before I went to the monastary. He decided it would be useful for me to know."
"Well then, we should probably get a move on with recruiting more troops if we hope to beat him."
"Quite. Captain Orion, how soon can we be under way?"
Orion responded rather more quickly than she'd expected.
"We can get supplies aboard by tomorrow morning working overtime. If Master Zack can get his golem to help at least. I'll try to pick up a couple more crewmen. We can set sail by this time tomorrow."
"Thank you Captain. Ishylde, could you go and wake Zack so we can get started."
Alicea looked over at Barret and her other bodyguards. There were still bits of gore left in their thick beards from the battle. It seemed unlikely that the mountainfolk would bother to wash any of the mess out within the forseeable future.
"I could still hit him miss. If you want me too."
Ishylde had held back further, unlike many of the other archers her quiver was still full. Zack had set her up with an alchemically activated, enchanted quiver; she could refill it with her minor magical capacity and had no need to fear a depleted supply of ammunition like the other archers. Alicea had seen her in the battle launching her wyrm' bone arrows deep into the hearts of Ga-Vok still in their landing ships. All her doubts about how worthwhile the hunting of the dangerous beasts had left as she watched them pierce thick steel armor time and again.
Zack had gone to lie down, even with his vast array of trinkets and relics he'd found this long a battle exhausting. A mere sorceror like him was lucky to have survived the magical onslaught brought by the Blue Army's shaman, all battle tested and worn by life amongst the clans. Yet he had survived, and he had represented his family well with his clever machinations and carefully woven spells. What Zack lacked in strength he made up for with a keen and intuitive mind.
Alicea brushed some grime off of her Leather bracers, she could see the fur mixed into the blood and powdered stone. The townspeople had fought hard, and they'd been confident of victory right up through the last wave. But she knew how little chance they would have had if Tasand had continued his assault, and how few troops he'd actually commited to the assault. At any time he could have ended it. Casabal had been little better defend than Marelle was, and he had overrun the walls in a mere two hours from the time they commenced the assault. Few Nielda could have known of his victory there, but Alicea could discern from todays victory that the greatest General of the Ga-Vok army had held back. He'd thrown the battle, few warriors would ever commit so great an offense against their leader.
"He'd have granted us the same privelige. He didn't come to talk to us, he came to make a point to his officers. We're just tools to his genius."
"You mean, he lost and he still us? That jerk."
"I think the General and the Alpha have had some sort of falling out. He threw the battle, and the advisor he executed was the Alpha's representative, and spy I suspect."
"He what?"
"He threw the fight. Look at the fleet, don't you see the smoke stacks just behind them? He purposefully hid his numbers so we'd underestimate him, make us more confident of our chances. But that means he has potentially thousands more troops he could still commit to the battle if he wanted to, we barely withstood that last wave. And the retreat; I don't know why he pulled back when he did, but he did. We could have repelled those ships as it was, because of the tricks we'd kept up our sleeves, but we wouldn't have withstood the one that followed. For whatever reason, he didn't want to win. I think there might be something going on in the top brass of the Confederacy."
"How do you know all this stuff? How'd you know who this," Jod nudged the still feebly gasping advisor with the butt of his splintered spear, "Was a representative of their Alpha?"
Alicea looked over at Orion. Her companions had heard him talking Vokil before, she could say he'd translated for her. He had fought hard, even though several of his crew had fallen in the fight. The crew of the Juline had been a valuable asset in the battle, holding their ground in the thick of the fray. But he seemed out of himself since General Tasand had assaulted the Ga-Vok advisor now being dragged to the town jail by a few of the citizens. She chose to allow him some time to clear his mind of whatever troubles may have flooded it.
"My father taught me before I went to the monastary. He decided it would be useful for me to know."
"Well then, we should probably get a move on with recruiting more troops if we hope to beat him."
"Quite. Captain Orion, how soon can we be under way?"
Orion responded rather more quickly than she'd expected.
"We can get supplies aboard by tomorrow morning working overtime. If Master Zack can get his golem to help at least. I'll try to pick up a couple more crewmen. We can set sail by this time tomorrow."
"Thank you Captain. Ishylde, could you go and wake Zack so we can get started."
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Chapter Nineteen, Meeting of the Commanders
"Kraulu, what is the name of this town?"
"This is Marelle, uncle."
"Ah good. Let us proceed then."
General Tasand had been allowed to enter the town square, along with a few companions. The citizens of Marelle, along with Alicea and her companions, had gathered to listen to the anticipated ultimatum.
"You have fought well, were you my own men I would award you great honor. Instead I offer you another month to recover and to prepare for our next battle, or to leave if you do manage to see the folly of your path."
One of the warriors beside him turned, his ears perked in shock. "Tasand, the Alpha only gave us a month to capture the planet. We can't afford to keep fighting that long, he'd have your head for it."
"The Alpha will recieve the best results I can honorably give him. Or have you forgotten the teachings of Hrak the vanquisher? Respect the enemy who withstands your onslaught, for he has proven himself a warrior. And if the Alpha wants to do things differently, he can leave his pillows and scratching women and do it himself."
"General, that sounds like treason." An official looking warrior wearing the Alpha's tabard stepped forward, tailed stiff agressively.
Tasand didn't even bother with a rebuttal. He tore his sword from its bindings and decapitated the Alpha's lackey. Then he turned to the rest of his companions.
"I'd been wanting to do that since we got here. Now I can finally conduct this war the way I want to. Now, who is your leader?"
The crowd looked around in confusion. Other than the last statement and the first they had understood none of what was said. Alicea stepped up and faced the general, clearing her throat as she did.
"Revered General, I am Alicea."
"You are young, it is impressive to see one with so little experience rally so sound a defense."
"The people of Marelle rallied their own defense. I am just here to call them to arms."
"Then you are the one that Haelvan sent. The Alpha warned me that there was a powerful warrior there, it is an honor to face you at last."
"The honor is all mine. I heard of your deeds on Mrococo."
Tasand's ears drooped somewhat. He was a clever warrior. He'd even thought to feign sorrow at having caused so much death to the people he was addressing.
"I did as I was ordered; nothing more, nothing less."
"You did it well. No doubt you intend to do the same here; I want to make sure you understand that I intend to oppose you at every turn."
"I expect nothing less. May the spirit of the Earth accept your bodies with honor."
"And the spirit of the light guide your souls from this world safely."
"This is Marelle, uncle."
"Ah good. Let us proceed then."
General Tasand had been allowed to enter the town square, along with a few companions. The citizens of Marelle, along with Alicea and her companions, had gathered to listen to the anticipated ultimatum.
"You have fought well, were you my own men I would award you great honor. Instead I offer you another month to recover and to prepare for our next battle, or to leave if you do manage to see the folly of your path."
One of the warriors beside him turned, his ears perked in shock. "Tasand, the Alpha only gave us a month to capture the planet. We can't afford to keep fighting that long, he'd have your head for it."
"The Alpha will recieve the best results I can honorably give him. Or have you forgotten the teachings of Hrak the vanquisher? Respect the enemy who withstands your onslaught, for he has proven himself a warrior. And if the Alpha wants to do things differently, he can leave his pillows and scratching women and do it himself."
"General, that sounds like treason." An official looking warrior wearing the Alpha's tabard stepped forward, tailed stiff agressively.
Tasand didn't even bother with a rebuttal. He tore his sword from its bindings and decapitated the Alpha's lackey. Then he turned to the rest of his companions.
"I'd been wanting to do that since we got here. Now I can finally conduct this war the way I want to. Now, who is your leader?"
The crowd looked around in confusion. Other than the last statement and the first they had understood none of what was said. Alicea stepped up and faced the general, clearing her throat as she did.
"Revered General, I am Alicea."
"You are young, it is impressive to see one with so little experience rally so sound a defense."
"The people of Marelle rallied their own defense. I am just here to call them to arms."
"Then you are the one that Haelvan sent. The Alpha warned me that there was a powerful warrior there, it is an honor to face you at last."
"The honor is all mine. I heard of your deeds on Mrococo."
Tasand's ears drooped somewhat. He was a clever warrior. He'd even thought to feign sorrow at having caused so much death to the people he was addressing.
"I did as I was ordered; nothing more, nothing less."
"You did it well. No doubt you intend to do the same here; I want to make sure you understand that I intend to oppose you at every turn."
"I expect nothing less. May the spirit of the Earth accept your bodies with honor."
"And the spirit of the light guide your souls from this world safely."
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Chapter Seventeen, The battle of Marelle
It would not be until Marelle in the south that she encountered opposition again. but as the second month of her travels ended it hardly surprised her that the Ga-Vok were begining their atacks.
"Call to Arms? No kidding, fishermen sighted a fleet coming down from the coast."
"Then we should ready the defenses."
"The guards are driling the militia in the courtyard. We've stockpiled arrows and weapons. We're ready to fight."
"Then my companions and I will fight also."
On the third day they spotted the Ga-Vok ships. Large cargo ships, refited to carry smaller landing craft, mostly, although she could see a few fishing ships darting around them with small catapults mounted onto their decks.
"Enough capacity on those barges for several thousand warriors."
Alicea looked over at Orion. "Good thing we stockpiled arrows. Ishylde, tell me the second they're in range."
"Yes ma'am, but who's range; the balista, me, the guards, or the other archers?"
"Whichever one will hit them first."
Zack ran up from the walls. "Well, I've delivered the last of those shots. You're sure about this?"
"Are you sure about your ability to use Alchemy?"
"Are the Ga-Vok attacking?"
"Then yes I am. Now call up your Golem and start setting up wards."
"Sure thing your majesty."
"Did Barret tell you about that? I'll have to talk to him about telling that story."
The Ga-Vok landing ships were very simple. A drawbridge of sorts was mounted between two canoes, with the other three sides enclosed with sheets of metal plating. the warriors stood in te middle, ready to rush onto the beaches the moment the ship landed.
Catapults from the ships still at sea battered the steeply graded walls around the town. They did little damage to the walls and killed few of the the defenders but many of the undisciplined recruits fled to their homes under the rain of stone. Most of them stood their ground, and the Ga-Vok warriors were greeted as they disembarked with a hail of steel crossbow darts and iron-headed reed arrows.
Orion's estimate seemed to be accurate as the day dragged on. Wave after wave caried fresh Ga-Vok warriors onto the shore. The sands were dense and reddened with the blood of the invading army; and the beaches writhed with the wounded. Most of the arrows were spent, and all the darts. It would not be long before the Ga-Vok would at last reach the walls, and the rag-tag fishermen and scattered guards would not be able to stand against the Ga-Vok onslaught in a melee.
__--__--__
"Kraulu, what are you doing down there on the deck?"
The shaman looked up in surprise. "General, you should see this."
General Tasand leaned over his nephew. Not an easy task on the rocking barge, but Tasand was not the sort of warrior to be discouraged by a minor challenge.
"That's an interesting combination. Never seen the wolf and the bone connected like that before, who'd you cast them for?"
"The enemy commander. I wanted to see if you'd need to leave the ship to fight them."
"Did you cast the Eight Knuckle Like I asked?"
"I did, that's why I wanted to make sure you were on the ship."
Tasand sighed. He was a warrior, and a general but he was also a servant of the great spirit. He knew that the bones did not lie easily; and his nephew had nothing to gain by casting them falsely. If the fates ordained loss, he would make it a loss by choice rather than rout.
"Order the troops to stand down. We shall return to the mainland. And call the shaman to council, I wish to consider the implications of this new leader of theirs."
__--__--__
"Miss Alicea, they're falling back. The landing ships just stopped half way and went back to the fleet."
"That can't be right. Stay on guard, it's probably a trap."
"Should we try to collect more arrows, or eat something?"
"No, order the ballista to use the alchemist's shot I had you make earlier."
"As you wish."
The landing craft were out of range of the crossbows, and most of the archers were conserving their reamining arrows. Ishylde had a specially enchanted quiver, she could refill it using an alchemical pattern etched into the bottom, and even at this range she could still hit many of the Ga-Vok warriors. The Ballista, on the other hand, were well within range.
"Fire."
"Yes your.."
"Shut up and do it already Zack."
"Fine, your grace"
A half dozen clay pots, shaped like a pill and covered in runic paterns, soared through the air towards the withdrawing landing craft. On impact the jars detonated. Blood red flames rended the steel plating of the small craft. One shot went wide and the ocean rose in a white dome before bursting, washing several warriors out of their transports.
A second volley battered the remaining landing craft. And with a third they assaulted the barges themselves; leaving the Ga-Vok fleet reeling.
A white flag rose over their flagship, and over a small yacht that emerged from it.
They allowed the Yacht to land. Four warriors disembarked first, all were tall and their muscles were clearly defined even beneath their armor. After them came a young shaman, he seemed skittish and his staff was as alive as though it were fresh cut.
But the last to show himself was the face they all feared. General Tasand had come to parlay.
"Call to Arms? No kidding, fishermen sighted a fleet coming down from the coast."
"Then we should ready the defenses."
"The guards are driling the militia in the courtyard. We've stockpiled arrows and weapons. We're ready to fight."
"Then my companions and I will fight also."
On the third day they spotted the Ga-Vok ships. Large cargo ships, refited to carry smaller landing craft, mostly, although she could see a few fishing ships darting around them with small catapults mounted onto their decks.
"Enough capacity on those barges for several thousand warriors."
Alicea looked over at Orion. "Good thing we stockpiled arrows. Ishylde, tell me the second they're in range."
"Yes ma'am, but who's range; the balista, me, the guards, or the other archers?"
"Whichever one will hit them first."
Zack ran up from the walls. "Well, I've delivered the last of those shots. You're sure about this?"
"Are you sure about your ability to use Alchemy?"
"Are the Ga-Vok attacking?"
"Then yes I am. Now call up your Golem and start setting up wards."
"Sure thing your majesty."
"Did Barret tell you about that? I'll have to talk to him about telling that story."
The Ga-Vok landing ships were very simple. A drawbridge of sorts was mounted between two canoes, with the other three sides enclosed with sheets of metal plating. the warriors stood in te middle, ready to rush onto the beaches the moment the ship landed.
Catapults from the ships still at sea battered the steeply graded walls around the town. They did little damage to the walls and killed few of the the defenders but many of the undisciplined recruits fled to their homes under the rain of stone. Most of them stood their ground, and the Ga-Vok warriors were greeted as they disembarked with a hail of steel crossbow darts and iron-headed reed arrows.
Orion's estimate seemed to be accurate as the day dragged on. Wave after wave caried fresh Ga-Vok warriors onto the shore. The sands were dense and reddened with the blood of the invading army; and the beaches writhed with the wounded. Most of the arrows were spent, and all the darts. It would not be long before the Ga-Vok would at last reach the walls, and the rag-tag fishermen and scattered guards would not be able to stand against the Ga-Vok onslaught in a melee.
__--__--__
"Kraulu, what are you doing down there on the deck?"
The shaman looked up in surprise. "General, you should see this."
General Tasand leaned over his nephew. Not an easy task on the rocking barge, but Tasand was not the sort of warrior to be discouraged by a minor challenge.
"That's an interesting combination. Never seen the wolf and the bone connected like that before, who'd you cast them for?"
"The enemy commander. I wanted to see if you'd need to leave the ship to fight them."
"Did you cast the Eight Knuckle Like I asked?"
"I did, that's why I wanted to make sure you were on the ship."
Tasand sighed. He was a warrior, and a general but he was also a servant of the great spirit. He knew that the bones did not lie easily; and his nephew had nothing to gain by casting them falsely. If the fates ordained loss, he would make it a loss by choice rather than rout.
"Order the troops to stand down. We shall return to the mainland. And call the shaman to council, I wish to consider the implications of this new leader of theirs."
__--__--__
"Miss Alicea, they're falling back. The landing ships just stopped half way and went back to the fleet."
"That can't be right. Stay on guard, it's probably a trap."
"Should we try to collect more arrows, or eat something?"
"No, order the ballista to use the alchemist's shot I had you make earlier."
"As you wish."
The landing craft were out of range of the crossbows, and most of the archers were conserving their reamining arrows. Ishylde had a specially enchanted quiver, she could refill it using an alchemical pattern etched into the bottom, and even at this range she could still hit many of the Ga-Vok warriors. The Ballista, on the other hand, were well within range.
"Fire."
"Yes your.."
"Shut up and do it already Zack."
"Fine, your grace"
A half dozen clay pots, shaped like a pill and covered in runic paterns, soared through the air towards the withdrawing landing craft. On impact the jars detonated. Blood red flames rended the steel plating of the small craft. One shot went wide and the ocean rose in a white dome before bursting, washing several warriors out of their transports.
A second volley battered the remaining landing craft. And with a third they assaulted the barges themselves; leaving the Ga-Vok fleet reeling.
A white flag rose over their flagship, and over a small yacht that emerged from it.
They allowed the Yacht to land. Four warriors disembarked first, all were tall and their muscles were clearly defined even beneath their armor. After them came a young shaman, he seemed skittish and his staff was as alive as though it were fresh cut.
But the last to show himself was the face they all feared. General Tasand had come to parlay.
Chapter Sixteen, Sorceror's Call
The crowds dispersed before Alicea could deliver her memorized speech calling the people to arms, which annoyed her because she'd even included some relevant pop culture refrences and several phrases she'd hoped would be quite rousing.
"What was that for? I could have made tab on that crowd."
'the Magnificent Zack' had also declined to leave the stage.
"Next time you make wild claims about shoddy golems being sprites you may want to think twice about who might be in the audience."
"You see him, the merchant showing jewelry to that fat woman, He's the best mage in town. He knew perfectly well that Vallen's a golem, you didn't see him jumping up on stage and making a big fuss over it."
"Just because people are letting you defraud the community doesn't mean you can do it anyways."
"It's not fraud, it's entertainment. People pay to see me subdue a powerful golem. Now you came along and revealed my secret." He kicked some dust off his sandals.
"I'll probably have to leave Ruom now. I guarantee you no other city is as rich as this one."
Alicea looked over at her companions. The Gibbets were still jabbering about the fight, they were exactly the sort of people this Zack counted on watching his performance. Ishylde returned her gaze. She had a very soft look in her eyes, it was fairly obvious what she thought should be done.
"Can you fight?"
"And I still have to pay the bartender for..What?"
"Can you fight?"
"Of course I can fight, what kind of man grows up in a family of mages and can't defend himself?"
"That's not what I asked, I asked if you know how to fight."
"I can fight. I'm not some palace jester for goodness sake."
"There's a Call to Arms for all Gasca. I was sent from the monastary to deliver it."
"That's not news. Everyone knows the Ga-Vok are polishing their shields."
"We've just come from Landsen, I'd say they're doing more than just polishing shields."
"What's that got to do with me?" He gesticulated wildly. No actual crowd had grown but the market had grown silent as the shoppers and tradesmen alike turned their focus towards the par on the stage.
"If you join us for the duration, I will personally compensate you for anything you might have lost by my having disrupted your performance."
The silence became very obvious. Alicea suddenly wondered just how much he usually made in a performance. She could pay it easily, the only useful thing she'd learned at the monastary was how Nieldic commerce worked. She'd made a small fortune investing in several dangerous ventures over the last three years. Added to the completly managable salary she'd be getting with her new commision she probably could have paid for all of the services she'd aquired so far and then equipped and supplied the population of Landsen for the entirety of the war. But she prefered not to think about all those painful little silver coins, it was bad enough being in a bustling market like this one.
"Up front?"
"No, Cash on delivery. If you really are as magnificent as you say you are, you shouldn't need to worry about whether or not you can do what I'm asking of you."
"But."
"Unless of course, you really aren't as good as you say you are?"
He straightened his turban anxiously. "But..Ga-Vok..dangerous..war." he muttered.
"I suppose the people of Gasca have no use for cowards anyways." She turned to the marketplace, and started to to deliver her speech before being interrupted.
"Now see here, I may just be a street performer trying to make his way in the world. However, No man calls Zack Penault a coward. I'll fight your battles, and I'll do it for free."
Alicea smiled and continued her speech.
"What was that for? I could have made tab on that crowd."
'the Magnificent Zack' had also declined to leave the stage.
"Next time you make wild claims about shoddy golems being sprites you may want to think twice about who might be in the audience."
"You see him, the merchant showing jewelry to that fat woman, He's the best mage in town. He knew perfectly well that Vallen's a golem, you didn't see him jumping up on stage and making a big fuss over it."
"Just because people are letting you defraud the community doesn't mean you can do it anyways."
"It's not fraud, it's entertainment. People pay to see me subdue a powerful golem. Now you came along and revealed my secret." He kicked some dust off his sandals.
"I'll probably have to leave Ruom now. I guarantee you no other city is as rich as this one."
Alicea looked over at her companions. The Gibbets were still jabbering about the fight, they were exactly the sort of people this Zack counted on watching his performance. Ishylde returned her gaze. She had a very soft look in her eyes, it was fairly obvious what she thought should be done.
"Can you fight?"
"And I still have to pay the bartender for..What?"
"Can you fight?"
"Of course I can fight, what kind of man grows up in a family of mages and can't defend himself?"
"That's not what I asked, I asked if you know how to fight."
"I can fight. I'm not some palace jester for goodness sake."
"There's a Call to Arms for all Gasca. I was sent from the monastary to deliver it."
"That's not news. Everyone knows the Ga-Vok are polishing their shields."
"We've just come from Landsen, I'd say they're doing more than just polishing shields."
"What's that got to do with me?" He gesticulated wildly. No actual crowd had grown but the market had grown silent as the shoppers and tradesmen alike turned their focus towards the par on the stage.
"If you join us for the duration, I will personally compensate you for anything you might have lost by my having disrupted your performance."
The silence became very obvious. Alicea suddenly wondered just how much he usually made in a performance. She could pay it easily, the only useful thing she'd learned at the monastary was how Nieldic commerce worked. She'd made a small fortune investing in several dangerous ventures over the last three years. Added to the completly managable salary she'd be getting with her new commision she probably could have paid for all of the services she'd aquired so far and then equipped and supplied the population of Landsen for the entirety of the war. But she prefered not to think about all those painful little silver coins, it was bad enough being in a bustling market like this one.
"Up front?"
"No, Cash on delivery. If you really are as magnificent as you say you are, you shouldn't need to worry about whether or not you can do what I'm asking of you."
"But."
"Unless of course, you really aren't as good as you say you are?"
He straightened his turban anxiously. "But..Ga-Vok..dangerous..war." he muttered.
"I suppose the people of Gasca have no use for cowards anyways." She turned to the marketplace, and started to to deliver her speech before being interrupted.
"Now see here, I may just be a street performer trying to make his way in the world. However, No man calls Zack Penault a coward. I'll fight your battles, and I'll do it for free."
Alicea smiled and continued her speech.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Chapter Fifteen, Zack, the Magnificent
Ruom was more than a port, it was the port. Some of the Empire's richest men owned houses in the secluded islands around the oceans of Gasca. Ruom's shape and location had made it ideal to recive their private yachts and small luxury cruisers. The town itself was built on a platform that rose the height of five men from the sandy beaches, and from its gates extended raised paths that ran down the atoll and extended into the sea. The yachts didn't stay, but the boats around the harbor definetly showed Ruom's significance.
"Welcome to port miss."
"Thank you captain, you wouldn't mind waiting for us. I anticipate needing transport back to the mainland once I'm done here."
"As you wish miss. The Juline will wait."
Alicea led her party into the town proper. The streets were crowded, a few local guards were standing around the market. Most of the activity seemed focused on a man who stood on a stage in the center.
The man there probably would have gotten the same level of attention off the stage. Most Nielda prefered a very skirts and jerkins approach to clothing. The billowing purple silk and flowing gold ribbons of his outfit, coupled with the brightly colored turban, couldn't have been hidden if he'd taken an invisibility potion. The lightly glowing Wooden staff with intricate silver inlay and set of flawless pearls the size of falcon eyes at the head floating perfectly upright beside him certainly didn't help him blend in.
But then again, he wasn't trying to blend in.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. Your attention please." As the man flourished dramaticaly the riboons dangling from his arm changed from gold to a bright blue. "I am the Magnificent Zack, sorceror extraordinare." He flung his arms outward and bursts of pinkish smoke shot from his sleeves. "'But Zack' you say, 'any cunning man could wear such marvelous clothing and shoot pink smoke from his sleeves, what makes you so extreordinary?' Well my dear audience, could a mere man do this?" He lashed out at the ground and called to it "Come sprite of the earth, heed your master and show these mortals who is your master."
The street coalesced around the point he'd lashed towards. The stone formed a hand. The hand grabbed the streets around him and a fully formed stone man pulled himself from the ground. He struck a pose and roared at the crowds around him.
"That's no spirit. That's a golem."
"What scoffer speaks?"
Alicea lept up onto the stage. From here she could see that 'the Magnificent Zack' was probably only a few years older than she was.
"My name is Alicea, I've seen sprites and that isn't one."
"Perhaps a proof of its strength would change your mind. Vallen, show her the error of her judgement."
Alicea kicked the golem backwards off the stairs. The fact her foot made contact at all would prove to anyone who'd ever met a sprite just how flimsy the illusion was.
Vallen, the golem's name apparently, kept coming at her. He was clumsy but strong, no number of her blows would finish him.
"No warrior can defeat the great earth sprite Vallen. Stand aside warrior, I will tame the sprite."
"Don't bother you showmanistic fraud. I'll show you real power." She stretched her mind to the braziers sround the square. She stoked the fires and drew them to her hand. "A true earth sprite is a dryad, a spirit of trees and life not dead stone." She unleashed the flames, causing them to swirl about the golem. As they faded she saw the glint of hateful silver under its cracked skin. "Nor can they be summoned," She cupped her hand and blessed her strike with steely strength, then dug the amulet from its granite skull. The golem returned to the streets with the source of its power removed. "With a trinket."
The crowd cheered.
"Welcome to port miss."
"Thank you captain, you wouldn't mind waiting for us. I anticipate needing transport back to the mainland once I'm done here."
"As you wish miss. The Juline will wait."
Alicea led her party into the town proper. The streets were crowded, a few local guards were standing around the market. Most of the activity seemed focused on a man who stood on a stage in the center.
The man there probably would have gotten the same level of attention off the stage. Most Nielda prefered a very skirts and jerkins approach to clothing. The billowing purple silk and flowing gold ribbons of his outfit, coupled with the brightly colored turban, couldn't have been hidden if he'd taken an invisibility potion. The lightly glowing Wooden staff with intricate silver inlay and set of flawless pearls the size of falcon eyes at the head floating perfectly upright beside him certainly didn't help him blend in.
But then again, he wasn't trying to blend in.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. Your attention please." As the man flourished dramaticaly the riboons dangling from his arm changed from gold to a bright blue. "I am the Magnificent Zack, sorceror extraordinare." He flung his arms outward and bursts of pinkish smoke shot from his sleeves. "'But Zack' you say, 'any cunning man could wear such marvelous clothing and shoot pink smoke from his sleeves, what makes you so extreordinary?' Well my dear audience, could a mere man do this?" He lashed out at the ground and called to it "Come sprite of the earth, heed your master and show these mortals who is your master."
The street coalesced around the point he'd lashed towards. The stone formed a hand. The hand grabbed the streets around him and a fully formed stone man pulled himself from the ground. He struck a pose and roared at the crowds around him.
"That's no spirit. That's a golem."
"What scoffer speaks?"
Alicea lept up onto the stage. From here she could see that 'the Magnificent Zack' was probably only a few years older than she was.
"My name is Alicea, I've seen sprites and that isn't one."
"Perhaps a proof of its strength would change your mind. Vallen, show her the error of her judgement."
Alicea kicked the golem backwards off the stairs. The fact her foot made contact at all would prove to anyone who'd ever met a sprite just how flimsy the illusion was.
Vallen, the golem's name apparently, kept coming at her. He was clumsy but strong, no number of her blows would finish him.
"No warrior can defeat the great earth sprite Vallen. Stand aside warrior, I will tame the sprite."
"Don't bother you showmanistic fraud. I'll show you real power." She stretched her mind to the braziers sround the square. She stoked the fires and drew them to her hand. "A true earth sprite is a dryad, a spirit of trees and life not dead stone." She unleashed the flames, causing them to swirl about the golem. As they faded she saw the glint of hateful silver under its cracked skin. "Nor can they be summoned," She cupped her hand and blessed her strike with steely strength, then dug the amulet from its granite skull. The golem returned to the streets with the source of its power removed. "With a trinket."
The crowd cheered.
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