“Good to meet you, Fonrir. I take it that you got my message on the situation?” Dave asked.
“We did. We have been talking with the Dwarven artillery corps that was deployed here to fill in the gaps. We are ready to be of service in whatever manner you need,” Fonrir said.
“Thank you, Warclan Leader,” Dave said. Observing the man’s manner and way he held himself, Dave felt that the Dwarf knew what he was doing.
A Halfling Elf with Aleph armor stepped up and greeted Josh.
“I am Council Member Koza. I have been sent with military reinforcements. The Aleph look forward to supporting our allies. We are capable of rendering aid in a number of ways.” Koza looked to the Demons and Beast Kin in the room. “And our fellow returning races.”
Smooth operator, Dave thought, seeing the Elf give a reassuring smile to the Beast Kin and Demon leaders.
“Well, it looks like everyone is here. Let us get started,” Alkao said from his Mirror of Communication. “Malkur, could you give us an update on the situation?”
All eyes turned to Malkur.
“General Kala and Alkao’s forces are sweeping out along the cliffs of Devil’s Crater, hunting down any of the Demon Horde that are left. As night falls, their forces will set camp and wait out the night. The Demon Horde is scattered all across the area around Devil’s Crater, looking for ways inside. There are multiple ways through the cliffs and the keeps, especially to creatures who can fly. It seems that the champions are the only ones capable of flying at this point in time. We expect for that to change in the near future. The Stone Raiders are using their varying abilities to track down the Demons, but it is slow work. It will take months to clear the area at our current rate.” Malkur glanced to Dave. “Also, the armor and weapons that the DCA are currently using are already starting to dispel. We have more orders out for weapons and armor, but our forces will become much less effective.”
Koza raised his hand as it became clear that Malkur was finished.
“Council Member Koza,” Alkao said, nodding to the Half-Elf.
“I have brought with me a large number of flying drones and scout automatons. They can look from the skies and the ground to find the Demon Horde. My automatons are good fighters, but they are best at defending positions rather than moving over rough terrain. They could bolster your different keeps’ positions,” Koza suggested.
“That would be much appreciated. Josh’s scouts are leading the hunt right now; he would be the best person to coordinate with,” Alkao said.
Josh and Koza nodded to one another.
“I can also help with weapons and armor somewhat. We can produce a large quantity of items of decent quality at very high speeds. The Dwarves’ weapons are better, but we can make them much faster,” Koza said.
The Dwarves seemed to stand a little straighter with that, eyeing Koza with interest. Dave hid his smile at their antics.
Fonrir put his hand up. “My two Warclans can support your DCA, though I think it might be best if we took the front lines. We’re stronger fighting in a formation of just Dwarves. Our artillery can set up in the keeps to provide support. The engineers can work through the cliffs and seal up openings in them, though they will probably need help in getting around the cliffs.”
“Our Demons can assist in flying them through the mountains between different trouble spots.” Alkao paused and looked to Kala, whose hand shot up. “Kala, you have something to add?”
“Dwarven Warclans are feared throughout Emerilia for their shield walls. I believe we should change up our tactics moving forward. Have the Aleph scout while the Dwarves lead forward with the DCA ranging around the cliffs using the mobility offered to us with our avian Beast Kin and Demons’ ability to fly. They can hit small groups of the Demon Horde that the Aleph scouts have found. Any big groups can be ground into a pulp by the Dwarves with the DCA and Stone Raiders in fighting support as the Aleph keep overwatch on the battlefield, making sure no one creeps up on us.”
“Use the strengths of each group,” Alkao mused, holding his chin as he nodded. “I agree. Tomorrow, we’ll link up to put Kala’s plan to work.”
Chapter 17: Beyond All Seeing Eyes
“So, will this actually work?” Sato asked Edwards under his breath. They stood behind a plexiglass window and looked out into the vastness of space and the stars beyond. A few thousand miles away, a small ship moved into view.
In the observatory, the most powerful and influential leaders of the settlement were in attendance.
They had turned the test into an event. A bar was off to the side, with people wandering around with refreshments and drinks. None of the servers came near Sato and Edwards, deep in their work as their people made it clear that they weren’t to be disturbed with food and drink.
“Theoretically; I wasn’t expecting this to become some kind of event. Think you could start checking out who told everyone that this thing works? I haven’t even started to look at its ability to change the heat pattern of the ship and then the air systems and propulsion systems to make sense with what Dave, Shard, and Bob have given us. Since I don’t fully understand the elemental science behind it, I couldn’t tell you what is really going on, only a vague idea,” Edwards said. To him, science was to be celebrated, but only once it was proved and working, not when he had half of a prototype.
“So, basically, you have all these building blocks you’ve slapped together, not really understanding the systems but knowing the function they each provide?” Sato said.
“Pretty much. The science behind them deals on a nano and micron level. It’s a real pain in the ass trying to get it all sorted out. The fine controls that are included with the Jukal implants are incredible. They’re the universe’s greatest UI/UX system. It adapts to the user, gives some major similarities, but it adapts so fast to their user that it really is like magic. Without that interfacing ability, then the components of this magic would be a highly uncontrollable mess. I wonder why the hell they even went this far with it. The first stages must have been a major pain in the ass to deal with.” Edwards tapped his chin with a pen while his thoughts wandered.
“The Jukal originally made it to replace their phones, kind of like an omnipresent servant that made them highly productive. They can be implanted at birth and continuously grow with the user. That’s what happens with the Players on Emerilia,” Sato said.
“Interesting! So, just like our own holo-bracelets applications. Some smart bugger connected the implants to the nanites and microns and went to town, the implants compensating between the two while using machine learning to turn a sentient creature’s thought into reality!” Edwards shook with excitement.
The room’s lights dimmed as the vista of stars disappeared and the window zoomed in on the prototype ship. It wasn’t much to look at: a metal cylinder with different components across its hull, windows here and there, escape hatches and runes. Runes were carved into the hull and filled with silver running in spiraling and concentric designs across the entirety of the vessel.
“Power source is stable; enchantments are looking good. Ready to begin testing on thrust systems,” Captain Adams said, her voice calm as ever. Outside of the cockpit, she was something of a sloth. When she was in the seat, it was as though a switch was flipped and she turned into a model pilot and ship commander.
Blue flames started to project out of the rear of the spacecraft. A simple Fire enchantment, but with a variable output pushing the craft along.
“Inertia compensators are looking good,” Edwards muttered in Sato’s ear.
The ship was a hybrid of magical and technological capabilities. They didn’t want to let on that they were using the tech to update their fleet where they could. Asking about inertia compensators was a big warning light to anyone. Sato might trust Dave, but did he trust a man he’d never met with the lives of all those under his protection?
“Power source is okay; we’re burning through a lot, even with the new power storage crystals,”
Adams said.
“Ugh, you military people—would it kill you to call it Mana?” Edwards cast a frustrated look to Sato.
“It’s electricity, just with a different name. Sure, it’s weird that it can be held within a soul gem and just how much can be held in a soul gem is impressive, but it’s still electricity being stored in a solid-state crystal matrix,” Sato said.
“Well, at least you’re learning something.” Edwards huffed and checked his pad filled with numbers, dials, and all manner of information.
The powerful people drank their champagne and talked in excited voices. Sato made sure to not make eye contact with anyone. He didn’t need them talking his ears off.
Captain Adams and her crew continued to try out the different enchantments of the ship, from using the Mana barrier to nudge small asteroids to see whether it did in fact function. Seeing the success of the multiple Fire enchantments, Adams became bolder and bolder in testing.
I swear, she’s probably whooping every time the channel’s off. Sato smiled, watching the captain fly the ship as if it were a space fighter. The thing was agile as hell. Using her Jukal implants, she just thought of what she wanted the ship to do and the enchantments reacted to her commands.
“How can she use all of those enchantments? Wasn’t Dave saying that you need to have a link to them or something?” Sato asked.
“Well, it’s through the command seats in the ship. We ran command Magical Circuits from all of the enchantments to their chairs. As long as someone has the Jukal implant/interface, they can control any of the circuits that are connected to their seat,” Edwards said.
“Huh, that’s pretty smart,” Sato said.
“That’s why I’m the guy who makes the things and you’re the one who tries to break them. Now, shush; we’re going to try that stealth enchantment. It’s going to take a hell of a lot of power,” Edwards said.
“This is Captain Adams. Flight check complete. Ship is running good across the board. Ready to move to testing the stealth Magical Circuit.”
Sato felt as if there were an itch behind his eyes as he looked away from the zoomed-in plexiglass window.
“Stealth is active,” Captain Adams reported.
There was nothing but space where the window was. A screen to the bottom right appeared as various sensors tried to find the craft. There didn’t seem to be anything out there.
“Control, how are we looking?” Adams asked.
“Captain, we aren’t picking you up on anything. We’ve even got people looking for you with just optical, but we still can’t detect you,” Control said.
For twenty minutes, no one could find the small craft.
“Power source at fifteen percent. I’m going to call it,” Captain Adams said.
“Understood,” Control replied.
The scene outside the plexiglass changed; the prototype ship was just a few hundred meters away.
Sato felt a thin bead of sweat travel down his spine.
“That’s amazing; better than I ever hoped!” Edwards declared, breaking the silence in the room.
People whooped and cheered while Sato grabbed Edward’s shoulder, his hand like a vise.
“Is something wrong?” Edwards asked, confused.
“Find a way to detect ships with stealth enchantment as soon as possible. If we can do it, so can the Jukal,” Sato said.
Edwards turned toward the window, markedly less excited.
Everything that the people on Emerilia had told them worked. All the technology that the Jukal Empire controlled and knew about for centuries.
Sato was left wondering just how lucky they were to be still alive with an enemy that had, by all accounts, magical constructs at their fingertips.
***
Geswald looked out of the large window in his office nervously. It had been a week since Esamael had been in his very seat.
Geswald tried to turn a blind eye to the various people who were found dead across Emaren and Verlun. Esamael’s forces were at work making sure that none of the king’s spies learned of Lord Esamael’s plans.
There seemed to be a tension in the air as armed men and women were moving in from the farms and toward Verlun. The groups might look like a bunch of thugs but by their actions and eyes, they were clearly something more.
Geswald had been following Esamael’s instructions. The rest of the group who had started plotting the downfall of the Exdar’s Traders now didn’t have time to talk, leaving Geswald stuck dealing with Esamael and the Stone Raiders.
He’d placed pressure on those who supported the Stone Raiders, trying to get them to back off. It seemed that they cared little for the trader’s guild chapter head’s words.
They had seen little of the benefits that the traders in Emaren hoarded to themselves. Now, with the Stone Raiders’ teleport pad, they were doing more business than ever before. The Stone Raiders were fair and easy to get along with. They were even talking about making their own bank.
Which is half the problem. The Stone Raiders are known by so many with a large reputation. We don’t know what is real and what is fake. Who are their allies and their enemies? There are too many unknowns.
Geswald sighed and sipped his tea.
“The spies will find something to use against Esamael eventually. There is just too much going on for them to not learn of his plots. With a teleport pad that we don’t control allowing them into his domain, the network of thugs tracking down spies moving through Liefl and Gufaross is useless. I was a greedy fool to get caught up in all of this, but now there is nothing else I can do. My fate is bound with Esamael’s.” Geswald blew on his tea again, taking pleasure in the comforting ritual and wisps of vapor coming from the cup.
“Now, there is a true threat. I can see the holes in our plan. Either we continue through and rule Gudalo or we are found out and hung for treason.” Geswald snorted, happy for once that he didn’t have a family to be ashamed of his actions.
He’d devoted his life to being a master of trade. He’d brokered massive trade agreements. He supplied the mage’s college itself with materials that no other person could get in Emerilia. Greed and the ever powerful golden coin had been his reward, never being satisfied.
“Well, time to roll the dice and see what happens.”
***
“Your Majesty, I’m sorry to disturb you, but I just received a recording meant for you by a person called Florence Guitterez in Verlun. I think you would be interested in it,” Danhald, commander of King Sigaird’s personal knights, said as soon as the royal office’s doors were closed and the enchantments active.
“Share it with me,” Sigaird said.
He opened a recording within the message.
It appeared that he was watching a meeting between Lord Esamael and a well-to-do trader.
Sigaird’s eyebrows rose as he listened to their conversation.
“Call the war council, quietly, and see if Lady Merguine is within the vicinity,” Sigaird said.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Danhald saluted before he turned around and left the king’s office.
The information showed that Esamael was planning to attack the Stone Raiders, though it wasn’t enough for Sigaird to call on the army yet. Once Esamael moved, then Sigaird could finally put in orders to get the southern army moving to attack Emaren.
Esamael’s backing by the lords was high so Sigaird had to be careful about who he shared the information with. Deciding what to do with it was the hardest part. It was clear Esamael didn’t have regard for Sigaird, but one misstep and Sigaird could be destroyed by the lords and government without ever having a day in the field of battle.
Sigaird’s eyes thinned as he read the last line.
“We will exercise the right to defend ourselves through any means necessary. As we have shown faith with you, I hope that you share that same faith with the Stone Raiders.”
Sigaird closed his interface and looked to the ceiling. The message was carefully worded, but knowing about
what had happened in Selhi Capital, Sigaird understood what it meant.
“Don’t fuck with us.” Sigaird felt curious instead of apprehensive at the thinly veiled threat.
“If they’re willing to take on the king of a country for messing them about, I wonder what they’re going to do to a lord who is trying to kill their people and steal one of their treasured items?”
Chapter 18: Shield Walls And Cliff Walls
“Ugh, all this building is boring,” Steve complained.
“Look, we need to make sure that the cliffs around the crater don’t have any massive gaps in them, so that we know that the Demons won’t be able to get in on foot that way. Then, when we’re fighting the Demon Horde, we can pin them against the cliffs and tear them apart.” Dave watched as Malsour made a wall a hundred foot across and forty foot tall.
“Yeah, but they’re learning how to fly, right? So, how does that help us if they just fly over these walls?” Steve pointed out.
“We’re putting wards on them that will let us know when something is trying to fly over the wall or climb it,” Dave said.
“Good,” Malsour said. The wall stopped growing from the ground, polished to reflect the mid-morning sun. Dave closed his eyes and conjured magical code into the wall. The air above the wall seemed to shimmer a bit, like heat waves off pavement.
“We don’t have much more to do. With all of the Dwarven engineers and Aleph mages, we should be done today or tomorrow, then we can go off hunting,” Dave said.
Steve wasn’t the only one who wanted to be out there and hunting down the Demon Horde. The girls were off providing scouts and support to the DCA who were carrying any of the Demon Horde who took to the skies or were in small parties.
Dave knew that they could deal with nearly anything that got in their way. He also knew that he was the fastest at making magical coding. Combined with Malsour’s ability to create rock, they were the best at making walls.
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