The Ice Lands

by William Dickey

  “If the weather continues to worsen, the beastmen will have no option but to throw everything into advancing into Xebrya. Even if your homeland manages to hold them off, how many will be lost? How many have already been lost. This is the best option for everyone,” I finished.

  “See, I told you that Isaac would have a good reason. He’s being a big hero like he always is,” Rose castigated Zelus. “And give up already. You’re just not my type.”

  I blushed again. I didn’t have much experience with girls and wasn’t sure how to react to Rose’s forthrightness.

  “So, when do we leave?” Rose asked, further demonstrating her stubborn streak.

  “We? What do you mean by we?” I said, despite understanding completely.

  “You are going nowhere,” Truant roared as he stomped over from the back cover where he had been speaking to Jutmaek. He reached down, grasped Rose by her hair, and dragged her face to the ground. “You will spend your last days here doing whatever you are told to, however limited those days might be.”

  “No,” I moved to throw all my rage into Truant and force him to release Rose, but Izusa threw a hand over my mouth before dragging me back. Truant turned to face me.

  “Oh, the human does not want this. I wonder. Is it because he is soft or because his allegiances do not truly lie with Doraga?” Truant questioned.

  “I could say the same of you. Do you really believe hurting them will benefit Doraga? Or are you only after self-promotion?” I countered.

  “Why you little –” Truant began.

  “Enough, both of you,” Jutmaek demanded. “I am the one who decides how the prisoners can best serve Doraga.”

  Everyone went silent for a moment as Jutmaek mulled things over. I could guess what he was thinking, that the arrival of these four were troublesome. Jutmaek was a pacifist and would have preferred to go easy on the four of them, would even let them go along if they could help, but he also couldn’t risk doing something that could reverse public opinion before the expedition had begun.

  “I see no need to execute these people. Doraga can see more use of them other ways,” said Jutmaek.

  “Not again. Let me guess, now you want to tread on more Othan traditions, you want to soften our illustrious Doragan lineage and allow even more humans into the clan,” Truant spat as he dropped Rose and let her go splat against the ground. Truant scanned over the four again, his eyes growing more and more appalled especially as they met Albert with his protruding belly and multiple chins.

  “No, they will not be allowed a place in the clan,” said Jutmaek. “The origin of three disqualifies them from ever participating in a Blood Moon. And while the fourth may be from another world.” Jutmaek looked down on Albert. “He is too old. They will be slaves and be made to work for the good of the clan.”

  Truant remained silent, not quite understanding what Jutmaek was up to.

  “Now I know that is not strictly our way, but many of the southern clans have been engaging in such activities of late. I see no reason to deny Doraga a benefit used by other clans. Especially since they are already here and do not require the added burden of transportation,” said Jutmaek.

  “Over the next few days, they can help with the packing. Then when the expedition leaves they can help carry supplies,” said Jutmaek.

  “Carry supplies, I thought the freak was doing all that,” Truant grumbled to himself, though Mai made sure I heard it.

  Because it was likely to take several months, we were taking a lot of supplies for the expedition. I was planning to store the majority of the items in my inventory to make it easier on everyone. Jutmaek was simply making a believable excuse to the public who were unaware of just how much my inventory was capable of storing. Truant had been outplayed.

  “I assume that works for everyone,” Jutmaek looked over to Truant who remained silent. Then Jutmaek looked over the four on the ground. Albert nodded vigorously and after he translated for Rose and Zelus, they joined in.

  “I guess that takes care of things for three of you. But as for you I think you know what I have to do,” said Jutmaek, staring down on Titania.

  “Of course,” said Titania.

  “What are you talking about? Why is Titania any different?” I asked.

  “She is of the Fallen. I am sorry, Isaac, but our rules on this are quite clear. We can provide nothing to a Fallen. She will be released and allowed to find her own way,” said Jutmaek.

  “What if…” I began.

  “If she happens to cross paths again with you in the future, there is nothing to say you cannot share the same road,” Jutmaek hinted. I understood him instantly.

  “It is okay, Isaac. I expected this,” said Titania. Her muscles bulged for a few seconds and the ropes binding her hands and feet snapped. Titania stood up. “I assume I am free to go.”

  Jutmaek said nothing and simply looked to the yurt flap. Titania took her sword and boom tube from Jutmaek’s desk then walked out and left Doraga, but she wouldn’t be going far. She’d stay in the area and keep an eye open. When the expedition set off, she’d rejoin us.

  Truant stomped out of the yurt shortly afterwards in somewhat of a rush. Jutmaek cut the bonds holding Albert, Zelus, and Rose then excused us all so Izusa and I could organize living arrangements for our new ‘slaves.’

  I didn’t think it a good idea for the three of them to be left on their own, especially since they were at least nominally slaves of Doraga. So, I suggested to Izusa that Albert and Zelus would stay with me while Rose would stay with her.

  “That is fine,” Izusa agreed while I tried to avoid the grumpy look on Rose’s face.

  ‘Ohh Isaac. Are we to be separated again so soon after being reunited? Why didn’t you have us share a room? Oh, never mind. I can’t stay angry with you, not with that weak chin and those scrawny muscles,’ said Mai making her best impression of Rose, which would have been perfect in voice and form if not for the fact Mai retained her typical shade of blue.

  “Everything’s going to be okay, I’ll see you tomorrow,” I told Rose. I knew I was being short with her, but honestly, I didn’t know what to do so in this moment of unsureness, my instinct was to throw a flag on the play and buy some time for me to figure things out.

  “Zelus, Albert, let’s go,” I headed for the exit. I heard Zelus’ and Albert’s feet shuffling to follow. Then I heard a series of short quick steps approach me from behind. Before I could react and determine what was going on, I was grabbed by the arm and forcefully turned around.

  Thwak. A hand smacked against my face. There hadn’t been much weight behind the strike, so it didn’t knock me off balance or anything, but what it lacked in follow through it made up with speed so the slap still generated a sharp sting of pain.

  “I come all this way, I go through all this trouble, dodging enemies and weathering storms, and you won’t even have a conversation with me. I mean… I know… I guess we never… We didn’t really do or say or make anything at all clear, but I kind of thought that we had… I don’t know something,” said Rose.

  Her eyes were vaguely teary and her face was bright red from embarrassment, even though it was one of the most natural things in the world. It isn’t easy to confess your feelings, everyone knows that, but in this particular case, my understanding was more thorough. I just felt guilty that I made Rose shoulder the brunt of it, that I hadn’t shared her courage. I knew I had to do something to change that.

  I grabbed Rose by the shoulders and angled her to face me directly. I had to fight her a little to keep her from breaking free but not much since I caught her so off guard she failed to summon much resistance. I bent my head low and kissed her.

  It was a strange sensation. On a physical level, it was only soft and faintly wet, but to describe it so crudely fails to do it justice. It contained the daring of surprise, the joy of companionship, the hope of a greater future, and the fear of an inexperienced youth doing everything wrong. A thousand shades of emotion as differing, a
s contradictory as possible yet inextricably it was all rolled up into one.

  ‘Are you trying to suffocate the girl,’ said Mai, appearing with an old-fashioned stopwatch in her hand.

  “Not now,” I hissed, severing the connection to Rose for the minimal time necessary to express this sentiment.

  “What?” Rose asked. Her breathing was deep and fast as her body caught up.

  “Nothing,” I muttered, scrambling to return to the task at hand. I leaned towards her to resume, but Rose pushed me back.

  “You’re right, this isn’t the right time,” said Rose. I again tried to approach her, to reacquire the sensation of her lips on mine, but she kept me at arm’s length. “We have other things to do. I’m just glad you told me how you feel.” I didn’t remember doing such a thing. I hadn’t said a word. Thankfully, I didn’t need to.

  Izusa led Rose away towards her yurt.

  I stood there in silence as they walked away, entranced by the swaying of Rose’s hips.

  ‘Earth to Isaac. Is anyone home?’ Mai asked as she pretended to rap her fist against the side of my head. ‘I guess no one’s home.’

  I shook my head, breaking my stare at a departing Rose as I turned to face Zelus and Albert.

  “Well, I think it’s best we be going,” I said.

  I led Albert and Zelus a few blocks away to my place. It was nothing special, blending in so well with all the other architecture of the city that it took me a few days to learn how to reach it without a guide.

  “Here we are, home sweet home,” I said, pointing.

  “This is the place?” said Zelus, his voice filled with surprise.

  “What did you expect?” I asked. The only distinguishable difference my yurt had from others was that it was smaller than many others were, but this was only because those ones were meant for families while mine was a bachelor pad.

  “Nein, it’s chust schtrange zeeing as people are already schtanding out front. I zought you vere one of zee beastie boys now. I didn’t zink zey’d haffe guards. As pleasant as zis beefcake is to zee eyes, it feels ein bit oppressiffe,” said Albert. In front of my place were two men, a new clansman carrying a large sack and an older beastman past his prime with a cracked breastplate in one hand. Neither were the sort you’d use as guards. I hadn’t really noticed the two of them because it had become quite common for someone to be waiting outside my place when I returned from training.

  “No, it isn’t that. They’re customers,” I explained as I went to the two waiting. “Wrot, you came back. I assume that’s what I require?” I asked the young man, accepting the sack of ore.

  “Yes. I got it as quickly as possible. I just hope there is still enough time, I know you are leaving soon,” said Wrot as he handed me the sack.

  “Come back in two days and I’ll have the sword ready,” I said.

  “Are you sure? Looks like you might be busy with your… guests,” said Wrot looking towards Albert and Zelus. Wrot frowned. He could tell from their size that Albert and Zelus were human.

  “It’s fine. They were picked up outside the village earlier today. The clan chief asked me to keep an eye on them until he decides what to do with them.”

  Wrot nodded and excused himself. I turned to the older beastman. “How can I help you?” I asked, more out of ceremony, a clear way to begin, than need. I could tell what he wanted from the cracked chest plate he carried.

  “Ahh, no. Never mind. I can come back another time,” said the old beastman before he hurried away.

  “What’s that all about?” Albert asked.

  “Like I said, customers,” I started to walk around the side of my yurt and motioned for Zelus and Albert to follow.

  A dozen yards behind my yurt sat another structure. It had been constructed rather hastily and consisted of four poles and a hide cover that was limited to the top to block precipitation. The sides of the structure were left open, a necessity given how much smoke the forge in the center produced. Strewn across workbenches around the outside were a variety of blacksmith tools and stacks of materials in various stages of refinement.

  “There aren’t very many blacksmiths in Doraga so there are plenty who have need of my work,” I explained. I hadn’t just been training my physical skills, but my crafting skills as well.

  Whenever I wasn’t training my Low Temperature Resistance or new murlimp abilities, I crafted. I first constructed the forge to make a few items for my personal use. I had the expedition and knew I could make better weapons myself than Doraga could provide.

  I spent the first couple of weeks making things for myself. While all forms of craftsmanship were looked down upon as professions, a few of my neighbors were interested in my results. It wasn’t long before a couple purveyors were asking me to do commissions.

  At first, I resisted. I had enough to do without adding on a bunch more crafting but in the end, I was swayed by the potential benefits. The Doragans didn’t have any currency and instead worked through a barter system. In exchange for the work, many brought me different types of rare metal ores that would be beneficial both at the present and in the future.

  “You’ve been making weapons for these people?” Zelus asked.

  “Some, but I’ve been making other things for them as well. You’d be surprised how many need basic cooking utensils,” I explained.

  “Vat zort of cooking utenzils?” asked Albert.

  “What sort of weapons have you made for yourself?” asked Zelus.

  ‘Clearly someone needs to straighten out his priorities,’ said Mai. Much to my surprise, she waggled a finger at Zelus. ‘Hasn’t anyone told him that an army marches on its stomach?’

  “All sorts of things,” I answered. “I’ll show you my favorite. Inventory.” I scrolled through the boxes on the inventory screen and selected one. A small steel cylinder appeared in the palm of my hand. I pressed a button and the spear sprung out to its full length.

  †Gravity Rocket Spear†

  Damage: 50-300

  Durability: 800/800

  Requirements: Level 50, Strength requirements vary depending on current weight setting

  Additional Attributes: Can shoot fire and alter its weight

  Description: A complex steel and exsilver spear designed to collapse for easy storage. Mana crystal in the spears head powers two sets of sigils. One that shoots fire out the butt of the spear and another that can modulate the spears weight so it can hit with more impact.

  I passed the spear to Zelus before finding the utensil in my inventory and passing it to Albert.

  †Black Turtle Constellation Wok†

  Damage: 50-60

  Durability: 1000/1000

  Requirements: 15 Strength

  Additional Attributes: +30 Defense

  Description: A versatile round-bottomed cooking vessel and artifact. Forged from a hefty heap of black iron, this cooking implement can also double as a blunt weapon or shield in an emergency. Furthermore, the runes carved into the bottom of the vessel look vaguely reminiscent of the turtle constellation and allows the wok to slightly increase the boiling temperature of all liquids placed inside of it, thereby decreasing cooking time and increasing the effectiveness when preparing otherwise tough ingredients.

  “I think I’ve seen this thing before,” said Zelus. He sounded a bit disappointed so I took the opportunity to correct him.

  “I’ve changed it some,” I said. I pressed one of the buttons on the spear’s shaft, activating some of its weight modulation sigils. The spear suddenly gained fifty pounds and fell straight to the ground. It would have taken Zelus with it, if not for his quick reflexes. Instead, it only forced him to take a deep bow before he released it.

  “You could have warned me,” said Zelus.

  “I said I changed it some. You saw me press the button. You were ready for something to happen otherwise I expect you’d be on your backside right now,” I said. I deactivated the weight modulation sigils and retrieved the spear.

  “What
would you want with an extra heavy spear anyway?” asked Zelus. “Wouldn’t that just make it too difficult to wield?”

  “I don’t plan on wielding it while it’s heavy. The weight of the spear can change very quickly. I plan on only increasing the weight of the spear right before it hits its target and return it to normal shortly afterward,” I explained.

  To demonstrate, I leveled the spear, aimed, and fired it straight at one of the posts holding up the cover over the forge. As I released the spear, I again pressed the button along the shaft. The spear flew straight and true, not wavering even the slightest in the wind or slowing down from air resistance, the spear’s magnified weight saw to that. It also adjusted the spear’s impact. The spear would have normally gone in a half an inch, maybe three quarters on a good toss, then the weight and leverage of the rest of the spear would pull the tip back out and the spear would fall to the ground, but that’s not what happened this time. This time, the spear’s increased mass drove it onwards until the end of the spear pierced all the way through the log post, stopping with a fleck of silver sticking out the other side.

  The metal shaft of the spear groaned and vibrated from the added strain, but it held. In a sense, this spear was actually weaker than my original gravity spear. The original one snapped itself apart when it hit its first target at maximum weight so I had to tone down the weight modulation sigils to insure it didn’t happen again.

  “Impressed?” I asked.

  “Yes,” Zelus nodded in agreement. Albert did as well but his focus was still firmly on the Black Turtle Constellation Wok.

  I led Albert and Zelus into my yurt. There we shared a couple stories about what we all went through the past few months. Both asked to see my beastform but I told them that it’d have to wait. It wasn’t indoor friendly. Late in the evening, I left them both when they went to sleep. Zelus took the floor and Albert took the bed, since he had seniority and since Albert threatened to stop cooking if he didn’t get the bed.