Questis frowned as he looked down over me. “Quite. Your work here will be well enough. Please, continue.”
So I did. I created some new arrows for Bokaj. Those were a lot of fun, though the majority were repeats. Three Fireball arrows, twenty-five Lightning arrows, seventeen Snare arrows, and thirty armor piercing arrows with his anti-healing shafts.
I did, however, have a few other… creative ideas that I wanted to try. And surprisingly?
They worked!
Warp Trap Arrow (set)
+5 to damage, teleporting (minor) effect tethered to an anchor point within the range of effect. Distance from anchor to arrow based on intelligence of the enchanter. 20 feet base + (85 intelligence divided by five = 17 feet) for a maximum of 37 feet in range.
Warp Trap Anchor (set)
Anchor point for a warped enemy. This will not hold the person but gets them where you want, sort of.
The next item I made on thin, three-foot square plates of metal and the engraving that looked like a spider’s web.
Pressure Prison
Once the face of this item is touched, the victim is held in place, frozen completely for a single hour. Use this wisely!
I’d be lying if I said that I had thought of that last one on my own. Questis had questioned me about having a plan once they warped to the points unless we wanted them to split. So he suggested that. I made a supply of ten, praying that no more than that showed up.
But hey—we could always murder the extras. Hello, EXP! Sorry. Back to the story.
“Thank you, Questis. That’s really awesome, man, and now I’m level 44 in enchanting!” I smiled and held my fist out to him.
He seemed to gather the notion and slammed his fist into mine excitedly. It hurt, but it was cool. We’s bros now.
“I am glad that I can help you potentially save my life,” he joked almost dryly. “Now, I have preparations of my own to make. Is there anything else I can assist you with?”
“No, thanks again.” I stood and stretched my aching muscles as I searched for anything out of sorts. “The king and I are meeting sometime tomorrow. I think I might also have an idea for a type of arrow similar to the warp trap, but it’s scrambled in my head right now, and I want to get it together before I see you next to discuss it.”
“I am truly excited to see what this endeavor will be.” He nodded to me as I left.
I walked too close to Fern as I was leaving, and the cat swatted at me in displeasure.
“Fern!” Questis reprimanded sternly. “Is that any way to treat a guest?”
“It is if said guest is an annoying Druid,” Fern replied angrily. “His tails look stupid.”
I blasted the cat with a Snare spell and left as Questis howled with laughter. “That’s what you get, you naughty kitty!”
I could still hear the threats from the yowling cat as I exited the palace. Today, I would go flying to see if I could find another worthy familiar—or companion, really. I wasn’t going to force an animal to bond with me.
I let the others know what was going on, and James told me to be safe and stay high if I could help it.
As I flew in the late afternoon sun, finding precious little of interest, my thoughts turned to Maebe, and I wondered if all was well. I didn’t want to contact her in case she was busy. Rooting out spies seemed hard if it was anything close to what we were doing presently.
Then my thoughts turned to the elementals. I would really need to start playing with the abilities they gave me. Earth and fire were both cool as fuck, and I think earth really liked me. Fire trusted me; he had to because he’s allowed me to keep Coal safe and help him to grow strong. Wind was a douche, let’s be honest here. And water—water was an enigma. She wanted to help, but she wanted to be feared? Respected? All of the above?
It was a lot. I needed a powerful familiar or one that would offer me a viable combat option, like Kayda had. I had the sky covered, so I needed something on the ground. Possibly a heavy hitter, but I didn’t know what kind of restrictions I had for companions. Then again, maybe I didn’t have any?
I mean, I had a fucking myth watching over Telfino as I flew about doing nothing but trying to find a way to grow stronger. This was real shit. I needed to stop thinking with where my heart was concerned and get my gamer ass in gear. Maybe I could craft one? Nah. Maybe not. Maybe Maebe knew of shadow animals I could talk to?
Were there any? Who knew.
Maybe I could have Maebe bring an Ursolon for me to have as a companion? Nah. Those things were big as fuck, smelled funky, and had tempers like a drunk who just found out that the kitchen at the bar was closed.
Nasty fuckers. Glad I had that form, though. Come to think of it, I had never heard the instincts of the Ursolon before. I hadn’t changed into that shape since I had gotten my new subclass. I’d have to go introduce myself. I honestly would have to introduce myself to all of them. I had so many forms now.
Let’s see, Ursolon, Sabertooth, owl, dire wolf, lion, belgar, octopus—that was a mini version—and spid…er. Ew. My bear and panther forms seemed to upgrade with the introduction of the two stronger forms of similar animals, so they were gone. And that didn’t include my fox form, which was a natural form. Then I had fire, earth, wind, and water elemental shapes I could take.
A lot of forms. I had favorites, but it was a companion I needed now. Oh well, it’ll have to wait.
I landed and shifted as I headed toward my room in the palace, the king’s quarters, where Kayda confirmed he was studying. I stayed on the terrace a moment and called to the others through our earrings.
You lot okay?
We’ve all been working in teams to be sure that we’re good, Yohsuke answered. Getting pissed off that the cooks won't let me train with them, but it is what it is. Fuck them.
Yup. That was Yohsuke for sure.
Gonna be going down for the day. Bokaj, I got you some more arrows. I’ll give them to you the next time we meet up. A thought occurred to me. Anyone taking care of Balmur’s armor situation? Need anything enchanted?
Nah, brother, Bokaj answered. Got a set that he’s going to like for now. Not the best, and we will need to get him some weapons the next time we’re able that aren’t strictly holy, but it will work for now.
Cool. Night y’all.
The others gave their goodbyes before I turned to walk into the King’s quarters. He had been so kind as to ask the room to make a bed of moss for me near the door.
No, I did not feel like a pet. That would be crazy. So no. Don’t think it. Stop it. Okay, fine. Be that way.
“Master Zekiel,” Telfino greeted from behind his book. “Is there anything I need to know?”
I reached out and pricked the finger he offered me after I gave him a knowing look. I pricked it with my Fae iron claw, and when he didn’t change or do anything, I relaxed.
“Questis will be the bait for our trap.” I took a seat on his bed. “I’ve enchanted some fun, new arrows for Bokaj, then made a few more that are designed to teleport the person attacked to an anchor within thirty-seven feet. Questis helped me make another item that traps the person who touches it.”
Telfino raised his eyebrows. “Are you sure you wish for it to be Questis? He’s pretty strong.”
I explained our reasoning, and he seemed to take that as good enough. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
I offered him a sad smile. “You have a really powerful companion in here that I can take with me?” He shook his head. “Anything to help me grow more powerful as a Druid?”
“Mother Nature said to stop being a petulant child.” Telfino grinned.
“She would. But yeah, I hear you.” I sighed deeply. “We appreciate you being so cool. I think we’ve got this plan handled, but your role is going to be huge in this. You going to be okay?”
“I have no choice but to be.” The king smiled sadly. “My people need me to be strong and to perform well. The Mother will watch over us all as best as she can.”
“I know sh
e will. I just want you all to be safe.”
“Life is not safe, Master Zekiel,” Telfino observed, lifting his book but staring at me. “Survival is a tenant of life among all of the Mother’s creatures. All of her children. To survive, you must struggle and sometimes take risks. My survival is nothing if my people—my family—are endangered. You know this to be truth as surely as I do.”
“The truth can still suck, Telfino.” I looked at him, his young-looking face mildly confused at the turn of phrase. “It’s not good. The truth can still be unpleasant.”
“You should have said as much.” He chuckled at me. “I would have to give you that, ‘to expect less would be folly on your part.’”
“Wow, you really are a wise ass.” I had to smile at him. Young for an Elf, old for me. The kid was going places. “I’m going to take the time to rest before tomorrow. If you need me, let me know.”
“Rest well, Master Zekiel.” Telfino flipped the page.
“Hey, if you’re going to have me refer to you as Telfino when we’re alone, then call me Zeke. We’re friends now, majesty.” I gave the kid an exaggerated wink and my best, winningest smile. “At least that’s how I see it. We both serve the Mother. To me? That’s the start of brotherhood.”
“Very well.” He put his book down and stared at me as he mulled over his thoughts. “What would you say to telling me more about you personally? As a Druid, you seem… different somehow.”
I quirked my head but remained silent.
“I don’t mean to be insulting or to insinuate anything negative by it, but you aren’t like Questis or the other Druids in our community.” He frowned in thought. “Your power is off slightly. Your power radiates more beast than animal. More…”
He didn’t seem to be able to find the right word, so I offered one, “Primal.”
He smacked his hand on the desk and pointed at me. “Yes!”
I nodded, in Druidic I asked the Mother, “Is it okay to share this?”
He is a cleric, the only cleric I have. He is more akin to you than any other Druid I have in my service because of how you both differ. You can trust him.
I felt her presence around us, and my mind settled.
“Because I am different. My friends know that I am as well, but the significance of it I think is lost on them because they’re pretty awesome too.” I eyed him steadily, thinking of how to say things. Better to show, then tell. “I’m going to show you what I can do, and I want you to know that I mean no harm. Okay?”
“I trust you. So does the Mother.”
I shifted into my Ursolon form. The huge bear, black fur with light, soft white strips along the body and stood to my full height.
A deep bass voice tumbled through my mind, We gonna eat the little thing, or are you teasing me, Druid?
He’s a king, though it is nice to meet you. I look forward to fighting with you some time.
The ursolon’s instincts grunted and retracted.
“That is magnificent. I read about animals like that in the Fae realms!” He stepped closer to observe me, but I shifted back, then spent the mana to shift into my air elemental form.
This was one I hadn’t used before. The form was light, but I looked down, and my body resembled a dervish about my height and thickness.
“Amazing,” Telfino whispered in awe. He looked closer and narrowed his eyes at the wind that loosed from me without thought.
I dropped the form, and he blinked in surprise. “This next bit is what makes me different.”
I cast Aspect of the Ursolon. I grew taller, broader, and my body thickened as my muscles grew more dense. My vulpine snout shortened into a more ursine maw.
My voice, deeper and a little more like a growl trickled from my throat as I explained, “I am a Primal Warrior. The first of my kind. I use aspects of the animals whose forms I take to strengthen myself for combat. I am trusted by the elemental Primordials, and their trust brings power. Their blessings have aided my friends and me in combat many times. Without them, without Mother Nature or my friends, or the blessings of the Primordial Elementals and the shadows, I would be long dead.”
“This is incredible.” He seemed stunned. “How long have you been able to do these things?”
“A while for some things, less so for others. Though I think I’m getting the hang of it, even if I could definitely plan better at times.” I scratched my head and then dismissed the spell. “I can do other things, but I think because I’m not a typical Druid, I got a bit of a power-up for a subclass. I thank the Mother for that.”
“You are welcome,” Telfino said with a smile as he must have answered for her. “Thank you for sharing this with me. I have much to think upon, Zeke.”
“Good night, Telfino.”
Before going to bed, I decided that I would splurge with the points I had acquired and buy Epicenter. Who knew when a ridiculously heavy great axe would be useful for a single strike.
I listened for the king to turn to the next page of his book, then closed my eyes and let Kayda take the first shift.
* * *
The following morning, during breakfast in the king's chambers, we checked that everyone was good, then began to eat together. The spread was nice, though the conversation was somewhat heavy.
The main event, which was a ceremonial prayer to Mother Nature, was going to be orchestrated by the King, as was law. When he finished praying, he would ask that the crowd bring forth their tithes to the land around them. This would normally be in the form of a seed from a favorite kind of flower that would be planted in the central garden in a section of the city we had yet to see.
“The plan is for Questis to bring a seed that will grow rapidly like, on the spot,” I explained. “Can you see that happening?”
“We will have our blessing,” Telfino assured. “I will also ask that you dress so that your marking be visible to all tomorrow, Questis.”
“Yes, your Highness.” Questis bowed his head. “Where will my guardians be then?”
Bokaj spoke first, “Balmur and I will watch over Questis throughout the night in shifts with Tmont. Then T’ and I will join the others in their places.”
“Jaken, Muu, and James will be waiting in the orchard where the Mother will want you to go and pray so that she may speak with you,” Yohsuke explained. “The Ranger group will meet them before sun up. From there, I will be a part of the King’s Guard who follow you to the orchard. I’ll be in ceremonial robes so that I’m covered, and no one knows who is there. The others will leave, but I will stay to see that no one bothers you.”
“While you are en route there, I will be following you to the scene stealthily,” Balmur advised. “I won’t be seen, but I’ll be close. So don’t look for me.”
Finally, I added, “I’ll be providing air support, so that way, if anything weird happens, I can drop in. Kayda will be watching over the king.”
“Setup will be concluded today, and the ceremony begins at dawn tomorrow,” Telfino explained. He took a bit of his food, contemplating his next words carefully. “I thank you all for your assistance in this. It has been long in coming, but if this is a success, there will be a new era of hope among my people, an easing of our formerly closed-off ways, and I hope, an opening of their hearts.”
“We’re happy to do what we can, Majesty,” Muu said after finishing a mouthful of fruit.
“We will see this to rights. Don’t you worry, Highness.” Bokaj grinned.
We ate the rest of our food in companionable conversation, Telfino spoiling Kayda with meats that she snatched out of the air greedily.
Once we were done with that, I stayed and began to train while the others went off to prepare in their own ways. I gave Bokaj his arrows, and the others smiled.
“How is it that you plan to train?” Telfino asked.
“Well, I was going to try and come up with some more powerful spells and then practice my shifting.” I stretched slowly—partially because I was stiff and just as much stuffed. N
eeded to get that full feeling to go away so I could focus. “Do you train at all?”
“I have trained to fight since I was much younger, but the act of it bothers me somewhat.” The king motioned to a corner where a practice sword lay on a bench, collecting dust.
“The act of combat or the act of practicing to fight with a sword?” I asked politely.
The king looked at me oddly, so I continued, “You’re a cleric. Your powers generally lean more toward healing, and you find hurting or killing things disdainful unless they’re unpure or undead things. Sound about right?”
He blinked before nodding once with a blank face.
“Have you tried blunt weapons? Like a mace or hammer?” I hefted out my great axe, Magus Bane, digging into the floor a little.
“High elves do not fight with blunt weapons,” he stated as if it were ingrained.
Which it likely was. Elves throughout most of the media that I’ve ever gotten my grubby mitts on were known for using their superhuman speed and accuracy as assassins, peerless archers, Mages, and all kinds of things, but I’d never really heard of an Elf using blunt weapons outside of a staff. Could I convince him to start?
“Elves may not, but a king?” I began with dripping skepticism. “One who clings too hard to a tradition that limits his people. Telfino, you’re better than that.”
“Well then, what would you suggest, oh He-Who-Knows-What-Is-Best?” The king dipped his head as he sarcastically bowed. It sounded like he was irritated.
I blinked at him slowly; he was adorable. “Try a blunt weapon for once. It’s not cutting or stabbing anyone, and the harm can be minimal if you only knock them unconscious.”
He seemed to study my face for a time. Likely trying to decide if I was being genuine or not, but I gave away nothing because I was just trying to help.
He walked over to his tree and leaned his forehead against the wood before beginning to pray. When he finished, the tree began to shudder, and a thick branch began to grow from the place he had placed his head.
He motioned to my axe, then nodded to the limb. I snorted and offered it to him. He lifted it unsteadily, and I stopped him. I’d do it.
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