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THE WOMEN had to swim to get away. Thankfully, that was no problem. Having grown up in the Lake Country, they had all learned to swim at an early age.
While explaining to Mink in detail where Badger was waiting, I helped the runaways quietly slip overboard. For the record, with the exception of the ten-year-old girl, the others were all approximately the same age as Mink. I asked about that little quirk:
“We weren’t going to go to the Prince,” Mink answered quietly through her teeth. “We were supposed to be for the retinue men. It’s an unspoken rule. It’s the Prince’s way of thanking his warriors for their loyal service.”
I kept silent. I had nothing to say. I just glanced at the young girl clutching at Mink’s shirtsleeves.
Following my gaze, she said coldly:
“Chickadee just turned nine this year... Now do you see why we couldn’t just leave them here?”
I nodded gloomily and asked:
“But you do understand that there will be consequences, right?”
“Girls like us are called ‘campaign favors,’“ Mink answered. “We usually don’t make it to the end of a campaign. And those that do ― well you can’t exactly call what they do living...”
“Then where are the others?”
“Everyone else chosen in the Selection has already been sent to Northolm in two longships,” she responded. “There are only warriors here now. They were waiting for the prisoners’ relatives to show up. Tiger Fang knew they were coming.”
So there were another two ships. The Prince’s envoy was thinking two steps ahead. Clever guy. My heart’s telling me he’s not going to be so easy to handle.
After lowering the frail Chickadee into the water, I started to help Mink. Once overboard, she suddenly came to her senses. Squeezing my right arm tightly, she whispered in fear:
“Are you not coming with us?!”
“No,” I shook my head. “I still have one piece of unfinished business here.”
“I beg you,” Mink unexpectedly pleaded.
I could feel a lump rising up my throat. Those eyes were working their magic again!
“It’s time for you to go,” I said with a parched throat. “You’ve already lost a lot of time as it is. They’re going to notice Wolf is gone soon. As soon as you make it to Badger ― go. Don’t wait for me.”
Reaching fitfully for my hand, Mink grabbed the back of my neck and squeezed up to my cheek. Despite the cool breeze, I could feel the heat of her face.
“Don’t die,” she whispered hotly into my ear and went back overboard.
I spent a few more minutes standing there and watching the white figures gradually disappearing into the darkness. I didn’t totally understand what was happening to me. A number of different and even opposing emotions were tearing my heart to pieces. Joy, sadness, fear, and desire to prevail. I knew one thing for sure ― meeting Mink had changed my life for good.
A bout of drunken screaming from the shore made me remember where I was. I walked up to the opposite side of the longship and looked at the riverbank. Right in the middle of the wide flat beach there was a large bonfire, and the intoxicated victors were performing some kind of frantic dance around it. It was clearly a special dance. For war. The warriors, stripped to the waist, were swinging their uncovered blades in fanciful patterns. A few of the soldiers were sitting nearby and hitting drums with their hands in a measured rhythm. The ominous tempo was gradually building, as was the dancers’ aggression. Right when I thought the drum battle would spill over into something bigger, everything fell silent. The warriors froze with their blades pointed up at the sky.
Tiger Fang appeared at the bonfire. He gazed upon his warriors pridefully and looked mockingly at Black Bull’s squadron. They were standing not far away and watching the proceedings wide-eyed. The Chief of Lakeside himself was sitting on a wide log with his arms crossed. Based on the sour look on his face, he was not enjoying the presentation the Prince’s envoy was putting on.
A minute later, I realized why...
Tiger Fang ran another gaze over his warband with a bloodthirsty smirk and raised his right hand. That served as the signal. A few of the retinue men made a mad dash for the prisoners.
The people who had come to rescue their relatives, having been most likely betrayed by their own chiefs, were sitting near the trees. And the sentries were standing behind them in the shadows of the forest. I could distinctly make out envious looks on the faces of the soldiers who had been chosen by lot to keep watch over the prisoners. They were constantly staring wide-eyed at what was happening on shore more than keeping an eye out. And that only played into my hand.
The victors were really letting loose and going wild. The celebration had clearly entered a new phase.
Already having an approximate idea of what would happen next, I got started.
Before leaving the boat, I activated the three crystals of the altered I’d gotten in the drop from defeating Yellow Wolf. I hurriedly looked through their descriptions. They’re called Hawk’s Eye. The transformation improved observation and aim. Each crystal yielded just half a point.
Walking a wide unhurried arc around the camp, I reached the place where the prisoners were being kept. From time to time, I stopped and turned my head all around. But all my precautionary measures proved unnecessary. The Prince’s altered retinue men were so confident in their abilities that they were acting unforgivably careless.
The first sentry I showed myself to was standing fully upright with his back turned to the forest and watching his fellow soldiers drag prisoners out of the crowd. He was leaning his shoulders against a tree, holding a long flask in his hands and muttering something to himself gleefully under his breath.
He didn’t even notice my approach. A moment later, Spike had gone straight through the back of his head. I found the next sentry twenty paces from the place where the first one had died. I have to give him his due. He wasn’t quite as careless. He was hiding among the bushes. He was sitting at a half-turn, trying to keep one eye on both the forest and the prisoners. But the show Tiger Fang had put on had done him a bad turn. Just a few minutes later, the Prince’s envoy had no more sentries left.
I picked up their weapons, crawled over to the nearest prisoner and called out to him softly. It was a middle-aged man. Thin as a beanpole. His once light head of hair now looked like a total rat’s nest because of the blood and dirt stuck to it. He was sitting with his back to me and his head on his knees. With every shout, he gave a fearful shudder and seemed to yip.
“Hey!” I called out half-voice.
Hm, zero reaction... Must be overcome by fear. It happens. I’ll find another. But I didn’t have to. A kid that looked to be around nineteen heard my first call. He was sitting reclined near the shivering man. He had a blood-soaked rag on his head, but his arms and legs appeared to be intact.
We met eyes. At first he didn’t understand what was going on, but then it hit him. Especially when I raised my right hand to show him two bows that once belonged to the sentries.
The boy crawled over to me without making any sudden movements.
“Who are you?” he whispered, his voice quavering in anxiety.
“Highlander,” I answered. “What about you?”
“Hedgehog. I’m from Pinevale. What about you?”
“I’m from Lakeside.”
The boy immediately scowled.
“But I’m not with those creeps,” I nodded at Black Bull’s squadron. “We came to get my friend’s sister, and all this was already happening when we showed up...”
“They knew we were coming,” Hedgehog said sullenly.
“Yeah, that’s clear,” I waved it off. “Your chiefs must have sold you out to the Prince.”
The kid clenched his fists forcefully and angrily huffed through his broken nose.
“Here,” I extended him the sentries’ weapons to show my peaceful intentions.
The boy looked around cautiously and took the bows.
“And here’s some arrows, too,” I added and pushed two quivers his way.
Hedgehog deftly notched an arrow and breathed a sigh of relief. The weapon gave him a sense of confidence.
“Now we can give them a proper fight,” he snarled angrily.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” I brought him back down to earth. “We won’t be able to give anyone a proper fight with just two bows. Who else from your group is willing to fight?”
“Everyone,” Hedgehog answered confidently.
“That’s good,” I said and nodded at the thin man. “Because that guy didn’t exactly look up for it...”
“Ruff just saw his son get decapitated in front of him,” Hedgehog explained. “So now he’s a bit out of it.”
“Ah, I see,” I nodded and immediately changed the topic: “So, do you happen to know where they put all your weapons?”
“On those carts over there,” the boy quickly answered, nodding to the right. “But there are more sentries there...”
“I’ll take care of that,” I cut him off. “Your job right now is to quickly tell everyone who’s willing to fight. On my signal, run toward the carts.”
“This isn’t a trick?” he asked me.
“I’ll do my utmost,” I answered and, putting down my Marauder hood, slunk back into the woods. I enjoyed watching the way Hedgehog’s mouth gaped. To him, I had just disappeared into thin air.
I ran over to the carts in short bursts. On the way, I caught myself thinking that this situation was in some way reminiscent of the day when Bug pushed me into rescuing those halflings. But here, praise Fortuna, there were no angry lizards or giant snakes.
The carts of weaponry were being guarded by just one soldier. I snuck up on him from behind and, trying out the move I’d used on Wolf, plunged Dragonfly right into his temple.
― You have slain Morph (ITS).
― You receive:
― Crystal of the Altered “Earth Rat’s Nose” (5).
Hm... This is the third sentry in a row to drop that same crystal. All from the Prince’s retinue. It probably wouldn’t be too far from the truth to suggest they were all fed blood from the same mutant.
Crystal of the Altered “Earth Rat’s Nose”
― Type: Magic transformation crystal.
― Concentration: Low.
― Rarity: Rare.
― Description:
― A crystal formed in the bowels of the Black Volcano, which is located on Dragon Island. For several centuries, it stored up the magical energy given off by the dormant volcanos. In the epoch of the Great Rending master alchemists learned to mix this energy with that of the most powerful beings of the world of Tal-Li to create Crystals of the Altered. Those who risk using this crystal shall receive the power contained within, the power of one of the most dangerous creatures of the world of Tal-Li ― the Earth Rat.
― Effect:
Earth Rat’s Nose
Completely or partially (depending on energy concentrated in the crystal) gradually changes structure of the olfactory system.
― Improves sense of smell.
― Warning!
Always keep in mind that excessive and unchecked consumption of crystals of the altered has consequences! Beyond transforming external appearance, the energy of the wild beast contained within the crystal can overwhelm the conscious mind.
― Crystal disappears after activation.
― Weight: None. Takes no space.
Fifteen crystals gave me seven and a half points in the new skill. Not bad at all. I didn’t notice any dramatic changes in my new sense of smell. That must have been because this riverbank was absolutely saturated with the smells of death, sweat and blood.
Surveying the inside of the cart, I nodded in satisfaction. Throwing back my hood, I emerged from the shadows and waved a hand at Hedgehog, who had been staring wide eyed in my direction the whole time. It wasn’t right away, but he did notice me in the end.
As soon as it happened, the prisoners sitting closest to the forest began to stir. Hedgehog and one other man with a bow crawled over to the trees.
Good move. They can cover their allies. I suppose I’ll do the same. Readying my bow and notching an arrow, I unexpectedly realized that I now had a better understanding of how and where to aim. Thank you Wolf, and the crystals you dropped.
Meanwhile, the unsuspecting retinue men were forcing prisoners to fight them to the death. They handed them swords and squared off. But being normal people, there’s not much to be said about their chances against the altered warriors.
Before my very eyes, one of the leaders of the uprising was stabbed to death. And I must give him his due ― he held out for quite a long time. Though he himself didn’t suspect it, that won us a few crucial minutes. In that time, just over twenty former prisoners had made their way over to us.
They were coming in small groups of two or three and hurriedly grabbing weapons.
I was already consoling myself with a hope they might pull it off, but trouble came from somewhere we weren’t expecting. Though I should have thought of it.
A bellow of disappointment from the boats made everyone shudder.
“Where’d all the girlies go?!”
Shouted a bear-like warrior with a full beard. He was standing at the tent flap looking stupidly from side to side.
“Bull!” he shouted at the Chief of Lakeside. “One of your people must have snuck over here! And now he’s gone and so are the girlies!”
“Look!” the gaunt retinue man shouted, pointing at the prisoners as they ran toward the cart of weapons.
An instant later, two arrows went straight through his chest. I clicked my tongue in satisfaction. Hedgehog and his partner really knew what they were doing.
“Let’s get the bastards!” one of the rebels shouted and almost forty screaming men ran at their captors with mismatched gear.
“To arms!” Tiger Fang barked back.
For obvious reasons, the retinue men were not able to get into formation. A free-for-all took hold. I spent some time trying to shoot arrows at the unarmored enemies, but then I got scared of shooting my allies and concentrated on a different adversary. I was more interested in the squadron from Lakeside. It just so happened that Prince’s envoy was hiding among their ranks.
Badger’s fellow tribesmen, unlike their allies, had never taken their armor off. In other words, all things considered, they were the readiest for battle. They were taking down poorly armed rebels with ease and even a sense of playfulness. They had a look of superiority plastered on their delighted mugs. Right up until I sent my first Fury-scroll reinforced arrow their way.
My first victim was Clod. The same guy Skinny fawned over and who I had to teach a lesson down by the lakeshore. The young, altered man had just cut down a gaunt fellow with a slash and was grinning triumphantly and clumsily pumping his spear. And just then, my arrow smashed his spear to bits, taking with it his whole left arm and shoulder.
The reaction to my shot was instantaneous. The large bear-like warrior gave a furious bellow and threw a spear at me. It looked like he put all his strength and fury into the throw. While dodging the spear, I could feel its vibration in my skin.
My next arrow missed, and after it another one. Then I unexpectedly took a hit. A strong jolt to my left shoulder made me stumble and take a few steps to the right. I squinted my eyes and saw an arrow sticking out of it.
I didn’t feel pain as such. My Life bar sagged a bit, but regeneration got straight to work. Finding the archer with my eyes, I loosed two arrows in his direction one after the next. Both found their mark.
In the next moment, I had to throw the bow aside and hurriedly draw my blades. The furiously bellowing big guy had reached me. Ducking under his axe, I distantly pondered the fact that this giant and Clod, who I’d just killed, bore a certain resemblance to one another. Seemingly, the man trying to cut me down was his daddy.
After dodging his humming axe blade several times, I overcame my initial consternation and went on the counterattack. Ducking under the giant’s huge right arm, I dealt two stabs with Dragonfly to his unprotected side. Almost two hundred seventy units of damage turned my adversary’s ribcage into a bloody pulp. The armor would have been little help. Despite the wounds he’d taken, the warrior swung with his fearsome weapon again, shooing me away blindly. With my Agility, it was no problem to duck under his arm again and use Spike to make another short slash to his throat.
After dropping the axe, the muscleman clutched at his neck and, stumbling, fell to his knees. Through shivering fingers, blood spurted out of his mouth. I saw incomprehension and terror in his bulging eyes.
I didn’t have time to watch his dying agony. My next opponent was already waiting. Or rather two. They were working together. They dealt smart, calculating blows. A few times, they were able to hit me despite my Agility and Strength. The wounds I took from their swords would have sent a normal person to the grave but, much to the surprise and bafflement of my rivals, I was still on my feet. And not only that, I also struck back. Beyond all shadow of a doubt they were more skilled in combat than me. Owing to certain circumstances, I hadn’t even picked up a sword until I got to this world. But I had the laws of the Great System on my side. If their blows even made contact, all they did was leave shallow scratches, which my Regeneration started healing at once.
Beyond that, they were getting winded quickly. But thanks to my Energy Supply, I was still fresh as a daisy. Tired and frustrated, they started making mistakes. And they paid the price.
“I remember you!” Tiger Fang strained to shout while watching me take down the last swordsman. “Now I see how that dope managed to get the head of a possessed creature!”
The Prince’s envoy was clearly tired. His moist gray hair was sticking to his temples. His hands were shaking. His chest was rising and falling rapidly.
“You should never have taken his sister,” I said calmly, stepping over Black Bull’s corpse. The Chief of Lakeside had been attacked by several people at once. For the people who had come to rescue their friends and family, he was the very embodiment of treachery. By killing him, they were taking revenge on all their traitor chiefs.
“I just do what the Prince orders,” Fang shrugged.
“Is that why you didn’t send the girls off with the others?” I asked.
“You came for her?” he chuckled. “Take her! But bear in mind! You won’t get to keep her for long! There will be consequences!”
“Well, first off, I don’t need your permission,” I replied. “And second, do you really think your Prince is going to be patting you on the head for this? It takes effort to shit the bed this badly.”
I looked around. The rebels’ fervor had won the day. The royal retinue men had all been struck down.
I turned my head. Fang kept silent. There was a look of hatred stuck on his face. We locked eyes.
“I’ll be honest with you,” I started. “My friend’s sister wasn’t the only reason I made this journey. I also came to take that little thing from you.”
And then, I pointed the tip of my sword at the mana crystal hanging around Fang’s neck.
