by Han Yang
We flew in a slow circle, giving our aura time for the animals below to judge us.
A shadow cast over the saddle and caused me to turn. An eagle snapped its wings to near, drawing close until it was a dozen feet away. The maw cracked open, and the eagle shrieked angrily.
The moth flew away, gaining height and I frowned at the underwhelming event.
“That’s it?” I asked.
“Ha! That’s it. She was going to eat you. Or maybe try to fight the minotaur. Tamed avains are inherently lazy and you had one almost attack you. Be grateful we left when we did,” Yano said with a scoff, turning away from us.
“Help me.” A faint voice echoed in my head.
“Uh, that’s not good,” I muttered under my breath.
I opened my mouth to complain about the silly nature of our departure, but the sudden delusional talking left me baffled.
I waited and waited, barely enjoying the scenery as we neared the outskirts of the city. No additional voices in my head said anything and the voice was distant, so I doubted it was the eagle. This was a mix of relief and confusion.
The terrain shifted from city to forest, and we flew for almost a half hour. The moth’s steady pace lured me into a comfortable relaxation.
“You seem distracted,” Nick said.
“Well, so far I’m not enjoying my trip while enjoying my trip. It is nice to be able to relax,” I said and cursed myself.
“Smoke on the horizon! Turn us around, Makr,” Yano shouted to the orc.
“I can probably turn the tide and I have space in my minion inventory,” I said. “Please! I can help you win.”
The orc watched Yona who hesitantly nodded.
“You’re foolish, and you follow my commands. It could just be a random fire. For your sake, let’s hope it is,” Yona said in an ominous tone.
CHAPTER 13
Outskirts of Jeer MegaCity Oponix
“Oh, they are just burning the dead,” Yona said unapologetically. “We’ve left the city for a reason. The Oponix Forest is a preserve above and below ground. The farms underground are shallow and intensely guarded.”
“And where did the dead come from?” I asked.
“Likely a unit avoiding the catacombs,” Yona said and stood in the saddle. “I was wrong, the unfavored actually had a successful hunt, quite shocking. We have no use for the goblin and scorpion guts so we burn the useless parts”
The moth slowed while we neared a mini city that reminded me of Tafo Outpost in its design, just infinitely bigger. A wooden palisade encircled a large space with a small wall and towers every fifty feet or so.
On the interior there were wooden buildings used as barracks, animal stables, and warehouses. Nothing about this outpost among the trees spoke of lavishness or excess. Even the guard towers were standing room only and designed for a single person.
Horses, boars, and rideable wolves meandered in their pens on the north side. In a central parade field, units of multiple species practiced tactics against each other.
I studied the formations, seeing orcs for frontline with large shields and short swords, trolls for javelin or bows behind them, and in between tigran mages shot spells over the enemy. An ogre or two seemed to be scattered in a few of the ranks, or an odd centaur, but the units were standard in their composition.
The way they worked together spoke of a different level of strategy than I faced versus Torro. This wasn’t a young war chief eager for blood. No, it was a trained unit. I didn’t know what kind of shit you had to commit to get sentenced here but I saw veteran warriors at work.
Noticeably absent were harpies. Even the administrators and guards were orcs minotaurs or ogres - differentiated by shiny armor instead of dirty leathers. A roaring fire outside the outpost burned in a billowing display over the wall.
By the gate, a griffin rider loaded up body parts to take to the city.
“Welcome to the pits. No nation is perfect. You have your refugees who flee and return, we have soldiers who lose favor for various reasons. They go to the pits. This is where they can redeem themselves by earning Zorta or dying to protect the Oponix Forest.
“The wurm lords don’t extend further than they can control and this outpost holds their advance. Honestly, they normally win against these outposts, and we normally let them. Think of it this way, there’s a balance here. We get to enforce a threat to keep discipline in the ranks, and the subterranean dragons get a foe to fight,” Yona said.
“And if I buy all these units? There’s only twenty thousand troops here,” I said.
“This is but one of a hundred stations, and it's only ten thousand that you can purchase. The rest are processing or here for minor infraction. I think you fail to grasp how vast our holdings are. Also, if you buy all these, how will you ever afford the dwarves?” Yona asked.
I wanted to reach forward and strangle her. I really did... and yet, I knew better.
The moth landed, and I fiddled with the belt retraining me instead.
I freed myself of the infernal contraption and said, “Are they mercenaries or slaves?”
“Is there a difference?” She rolled her eyes. “These soldiers have no status in our society. They are a step below a goblin and a step above a captured slave. Selling their swords is something the empire allows.
“In this case, if they perform well and serve you for five years, they can return home with their favor restored. Or they can stay with you, and before you ask, yes, they can have family join them. That’s not paid for by us, though.”
“I appreciate the transparency. I will hire as many dwarves as you will allow, assuming I buy ten thousand soldiers.”
She snickered. “That was always the plan. The fee to move your new troops will cost more than they will. You understand that, right?” Yona asked.
“Salvation!” a voice rang through my head.
I staggered, shooting a hand to latch onto the saddle to stable myself. Instead of letting her prod me, I said, “I need troops and supplies. I need them now. I will pay the cost, and if you make the prices exorbitant, I will remember. Why this outpost?”
“Destiny!”
I could hear the voice rising from the depths. Based on the echo in my mind, it was below me and away from the city.
My grip against the saddle tightened until the whites of my knuckles showed.
“This is the closest one,” Yona lied.
Nick undid his belt and said, “Why lie?”
“Okay, maybe it’s not the closest. Petrion does favor you, and one of our generals lost status. He is gifted, clearly a winner,” Yona said, pointing to the rising smoke. “You were supposed to judge his mettle for your own, feel like you were getting a grand deal, which you are, and sing Petrion’s praises before you die to the elva horde. A win-win, as they say.”
“How many dwarves?” I asked.
“A thousand at most. You will be able to hire the majority of the troops in this outpost. Your contract will be with General Garrigan. His troops are his to command as long as he follows your orders. But… there are rules. Read them. Speaking of which,” she reached into a satchel, handing me a rolled parchment, “here is the paperwork,” Yona said.
“Just like that?” I asked, seeing a few names and numbers beside them on the paper.
“You now own these slaves,” she said in a sassy tone while standing to showcase the outpost.
I grunted with a head shake. “Mercenaries. And won’t this outpost be overrun without them here?”
“Have no fear. The wurms adjust, as will we. They will probably apply pressure elsewhere while we restock this pit,” Yona said and shooed us out of the saddle. “When the moth eclipse arrives, be ready.”
I glanced up at the sun, seeing it was a normal day with no signs of the moon.
“Not that eclipse. A flock of moths is not called a flock, it’s called an eclipse,” Nick informed me. “They can carry big traveling crates to move personnel. Very efficient, very expensive.”
“Okay
, so, we what? Go kill some goblins while we wait?” I asked. “I’d like to test this general.”
“You can. It's not advised, but we do not hold back those seeking glory unless they break ranks or orders. You have no orders stopping you, but why risk it?” Yona asked.
“Free me!”
I squinted with a wince. The voice rang through my mind, causing me to shake my head.
“Motion sick?” Nick asked.
“Yeah, yeah, let's go meet this general,” I said, climbing down the rope ladder for the ground.
Nick leaped out of the saddle and landed with a thud beside me. The moth slowly lifted into the air, gaining altitude before flying back towards Oponix.
“You okay?” Nick asked while a large orc in fine armor strode in our direction.
“Hearing voices in my head. Never happened before, and they’re starting to hurt,” I said, straightening my back to greet the approaching orc. Nick held in his surprise and even managed a molar filled smile for the orc. “Are you the camp leader? Here.”
He accepted the paperwork. “Cohort Leader Taronb. I take it you’re the dignitary I was told to expect. The Garo Region has been a pitiful area. Maybe you can bring some honor to these dogs,” Taronb said with a sneer.
I didn’t like Taronb. There really wasn’t a reason to, with his flippant attitude and the fact I’d likely never see him again.
“Assemble my troops,” I ordered.
He scoffed and Nick stepped forward, speaking a language the orc understood clearly - potential violence.
“Fine, but only because I was told to do so anyway. I don’t follow the orders of pitiful humans,” Taronb said then spat in the grass.
He stormed off, bellowing commands to his adjuncts.
“What does the voice say?” Nick asked.
I sighed, walking toward a big three story structure with intense gates. The fact the heavily secured door was sealed with blood staining the road told me all I needed to know; this was how the locals went underground.
“Help me, salvation, destiny, and then free me. The voice is coming from below,” I said with a sigh. “Figure I will go down and see if it talks more or shuts up.”
“You sure you want to listen to it?” Nick said.
“Uh, no. But also yes. Obviously, I’m conflicted. Bring me a dead wolf. Please,” I commanded.
Nick had grown again, evident when he bounded away toward the wolf pen with his extra-long strides. He smoothly slid his battle axe off his back, finished the last hundred or so paces in a dead sprint, then soared over the fence.
The assembling troops watched the minotaur sprinting across the camp. The alpha wolf snarled, placing itself in front of the pack. The wolf backed down, constantly glancing over its shoulder.
Nick hesitated.
“I can’t!” Nick shouted. “He is just doing what he is supposed to.”
“What are you trying to do?” a tigran asked.
This ten-foot tall cat humanoid confidently closed the distance towards me. His orange fur puffed out his face, hiding most of his facial details. A black nose covered the tip of his snout, and his red eyes gazed upon me with interest.
Most species were more human than animal, but this was an exception. The term full furry came to mind when I inspected him. His shiny armor, fancy sword, and ornate staff told me he was likely the general.
“I was going to raise the dead wolf and make it bigger,” I said casually.
“They are trained already,” the tigran said. Based on his confident tone and close presence, this was likely my newest general. “Rumors of a necromancer reached even this cesspool of a posting.”
“I’m Damien, your new boss,” I said.
“The weakling is right, Garrigan,” Taronb said with a grunt. “He bought you and your pick of ten thousand.”
“Assemble the troops. We dive into the caverns,” I said.
“You can’t be serious?” Taronb said.
I replied, “Very serious. I need to test the mettle of my new troops before I ask for a refund.”
Taronb looked like he wanted to strike me. He balled up a fist and released it. The orc certainly had anger issues.
“Damien, what am I doing?” Nick asked while petting the wolf.
I waved him out of the pen. “Apparently, you’re growing a soft spot.”
“They’re part of your army, not a tool to kill,” Garrigan said.
I shook my head. “You’re a piece on a chessboard. Every piece is expendable to attain victory, especially a warg. I will admit you are a living being. Since I can’t show off with ghouls and reapers, bring me a goblin.”
“I can help,” a squeaky voice said from behind Garrigan. “What do you need from the goblins, oh Great War Chief?”
“Great War Chief? My sweaty ballcock! He’s a meek human. I don’t care that he beat a few defenseless Podoni cities,” Taronb said.
“One thing at a time.” My vision shifted from the orc to the goblin. “What is your magic type?” I asked the goblin who sniffed the air more intently.
“I know that smell, somehow. But it can’t be possible,” the goblin said.
“Leetro, answer the human,” Garrigan demanded.
The goblin swirled ice between his hands.
“I use him as a stun mage in case anyone gets close to where I command. No one suspects the goblin,” Garrigan said.
“Truer words are rarely spoken,” I muttered. I squatted down until I shifted to my knees and waved Leetro forward. I pulled out two orbs from my pouch and asked, “How many upgrades are available to you?”
“Until level twenty, Master,” Leetro said. “I practice every morning like Master Garrigan orders.”
“Boss, King, or General. No Master for me. Take these and become a goblin ogre,” I said in offering. Leetro tilted his head in confusion. “Ingest the orbs and level up.”
“You jest?” Garrigan blurted.
“I control forty thousand loyal goblins. Watch what happens,” I said.
“What good can happen if you level up a goblin ice mage? I could use that Zorta and unlock level twenty two arcane,” Garrigan said.
“Let him be a fool,” Taronb said.
Nick arrived, posturing aggressively. I waved him down to come sit by me.
“Sorry for telling you to kill a pet,” I said.
“I think I understand where your mind was, but my heart wouldn’t let me,” Nick said.
I shrugged. “I understand, my friend.”
“Are you two going to hug?” Taronb sneered.
Nick grasped his axe tight enough the leather groaned in protest. He carefully set his weapon across his lap.
“We hugged this morning. This man has saved my life, the life of my mate, and has extreme standing with King Hartinger. The gods bless him and he has called them down from the heavens. Mock him at your own peril,” Nick said.
“Interesting,” Garrigan said, mulling over the words.
“Leeto, hurry up. I have a wurm to slay,” I said.
“Yes Master. I mean Boss. It’s just these orbs are ten thousand Zorta each,” Leeto said.
I reached into the other purse and fished out two single thousand orbs and accepted the others back.
“Do you freely hand out Zorta?” Garrigan asked, all but licking his lips.
“Does this army contain a parsing mage?” I asked, and he nodded. I handed him the two ten thousand Zorta orbs. I tossed another thousand one to Nick. “This is what happens when you work for me, which you do now. Hurry to disseminate the Zorta across the troops. I wasn’t kidding, we march to war.”
“But why?” Garrigan asked.
I glanced up to Tarnorb stunned into silence.
“You have to spend Zorta to make Zorta. I will tell you more once we are out of sight of our trading partners. Welcome to Tribe Moonguard and -”
Leeto fell over, the poor goblin convulsed violently. Icy foam coated his mouth and his body danced in a half circle from the shakes. A blinding
golden light blasted down, causing us all to flinch.
When the intense magic faded, Leeto flopped on the gritty terrain with uncertainty. He was a troll now, with the minimal differences of a goblin ogre. Shock washed through those observing the event.
“What the hell did you do?” Tarnorb said.
“If I level him enough, he will turn into an orc. Kinda makes you rethink your place in the world. After that, he can become an ogre. Each step he is weaker than the equivalent in his mana and raw power, but he will unlock magus level spells,” I said. “If it is confusing, it should be. Basically, only upgrade goblins if you’re desperate and willing to expend Zorta.”
“Yes, we know about this. It's a hideous waste,” Garrigan said. “I can have an ogre brought over. This shield mage would have leveled ten times for the cost to make this one a troll. Their efficiency is horrible. I recommend you focus on the bigger species like everyone else.”
“Sure, no argument. I only had goblins to work with before, and here in a moment, he will emit a stench,” I said.
“I don’t get it,” Garrigan said.
“We are going to where you fight goblins? Correct?” I asked. He nodded, and I said, “Then you will see. Notice the goblins coming out from around the structures where they normally hide. They sense a happy goblin.”
“Ah, I understand now,” Garrigan said. “I may not approve or find the strategy sound. You used it due to desperation. You now attract recruits freely by being kind to what most consider the worthless fodder.”
“I did what I had to do to survive. I’m not changing what has been working for me,” I said and waved over the hesitant goblins. “Hurry up and prepare the army. I eagerly look forward to seeing what these troops can do.”
Garrigan huffed but nodded with a turn. He shouted out orders, called a parsing mage over, and allowed company commanders to approach him one at a time for handfuls of Zorta.
Taronb scoffed at what he witnessed, kicking a goblin who neared him. I couldn’t strike him for his malice, but I did scoop the pregnant goblin off the cobbled road. Her leg bled out of her thin pants and bone protruded.
I called for a healer and ensured her wound was mended. I set her down and walked over to the wolf pen. The alpha growled, and I coursed a domination spell through my body. My increased mana let me expand the spell until I had to contain its desire to be free.