by Elian Tars
“Yes, it is,” I agreed, deciding to please her.
“I’m glad you think the same way,” she said warmly. “Well, that’s okay... We’ll be together soon, but for now, I have a present for you, my dear husband. Look at the dove’s leg.”
I had noticed before a piece of paper tied to the bird’s left leg with a red ribbon, but I didn’t dare touch it without permission, certain that Tiara would’ve found out about it. I didn’t want to risk angering her and spoiling our rather beneficial relationship. My patience had been rewarded.
I untied the knot and unrolled the piece of yellowish paper, which was about four by ten inches big. There was an intricate, red ornament in the center of it. It didn’t look like dried blood, but taking into account who Tiara’s patron was, I was sure that it was, despite looking like paint.
“And how many people have you killed to draw this?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter, my dear husband,” she replied with absolute calmness. “It took some effort, but I hope you’ll like it. Honestly speaking, I’ll be glad if you don’t have to use it…”
***
Remembering my conversation with Tiara, I smiled and got up from the bed. Although the talk was unexpected, I knew that remaining on the territory of her father’s duchy would raise her suspicion. I even felt sorry for the poor bird that fell dead as soon as our conversation was over.
Someone knocked at my door.
“Sir Senior Disciple!” cried one of the sentries.
“I’m up, thank you,” I answered. “I’m coming.”
I heard the sound of retreating footsteps. I sighed, slicked my hair back, and filled a mug with water from the cask. I took a gulp and looked around. I used to always check if I had forgotten something before leaving, but doing that here was silly because I carried all my things in my inventory.
I felt a slight thrill. Excitement. Impatience. In a few hours, we’ll be attacking a city! I thought that I was ready for that. Seems not.
I was also a little bit disappointed that after upgrading Gloominess to level seven, I didn’t get any new skills. I’d have to wait for it to reach level eight it seemed. I hoped that I’d get something really powerful when that happens. For now, I’ll have to settle with level four Trident of Darkness and Aura of Darkness. I spent as much as twenty skill points on leveling them. By level seventy-eight, I had ten unspent points of my own and fifteen bought ones (I had bought thirty, but the first fifteen I spent on Small Avatar of Darkness). Out of those, only three points remained. I decided to save them for a rainy day. Haste makes waste, as they say.
Aura of Darkness
Level 4
Sustainable
Cost: 4 mana per second
Radius: 22 feet
All who are under the effect of the “Aura of Darkness” have a 3 % chance of receiving either “Horror” or “Tranquility of Darkness” status effects, depending on their loyalty to the “Darkness.” If “Tranquility of Darkness” is activated, and the affected is your ally, the regeneration speed of all of their stats will increase. The chance renews one time per second.
Trident of Darkness
Level 4
Active
Cost: 300 mana
Cooldown: 10 seconds
Deals 220 extra damage to the main target when attacking with your primary weapon, and 100 points of damage to three secondary targets. Has 23% chance to trigger either “Horror” or “Tranquility of Darkness” status effect, depending on the target’s loyalty to the “Darkness.”
Okay, I think I’m ready. It’s time to go.
***
Though we left before dawn, the Followers of the Old Man from the main village (which we decided to call “Dark”), who would stay in the barony, filled the streets to see us off.
“Don’t worry, Sir Senior Disciple!” Shawn bowed. “I’ll see to everything.”
“I believe in you.” I patted the man on the shoulder and smiled. I wondered what was going on in his head. Just a few weeks ago, he was your ordinary, illiterate villager, and now he was not only a baron’s majordomo, but also a Disciple of the God of Darkness. The only Disciple that would stay in the barony, too.
“Don’t worry, sirs, I’ll help him.” Olyest bowed to Kazimir first, and then to me. Though I was the second most important person on his list, the former castellan bowed to me a little bit lower than to his former master, because I was both a baron and a Senior Disciple.
Earlier, I had a chance to talk to this gray-bearded, bald knight. Olyest was worried that he would have to stay in a safe place instead of fighting together with Kazimir. However, he understood that our land shouldn’t be left unprotected. Even if Shawn was able to deal with the administrative affairs, the former chief wasn’t a good commander yet. Who knew what could happen. Anyone could attack my barony: the Decayed, random supporters of the king, brigands, or worse.
“I’m sorry, but they need you, Olyest. All of the Followers need you at our new home. And not only those I’ve brought, but also those who came here with you.” I waved my hand, pointing out the playing children to the complacent Olyest. “They’ll feel defenseless if I take all of the fighters with me. And those who go with me will worry if their families are left without protection. I’m sure that you understand this. You were a castellan and you know what it means to keep a castle safe. I can entrust this task only to you.” Smiling warmly, I put my hand on his armored shoulder.
Olyest was touched by my words. But I, as always, couldn’t sincerely say that I completely trusted him. But out of everyone, he really was the best candidate for this position.
Jumping on Vella’s back, I rode back and forth in front of my army. Giving speeches on her back seemed to have become some kind of a ritual. Everyone fell silent and looked at me, holding their breaths. Even the Wolves stopped growling. Silence reigned.
I looked at those who’d come with me and felt proud. Aside from the Disciples and Mara, I was taking 250 fighters with me. Never before did I even dream that one day I’d be a baron with an army. In front of me were the fruits of my labor — hundred of Kazimir’s best warriors and 150 former peasants. Best of the best! The villagers had consumed the Simple Tranquility of Darkness Potion and trained tirelessly to reach level fifty. Half of the peasant army were residents of Ilyenta, the other half consisted of the villagers that Shawn had brought, and Kazimir’s people.
Regardless of their origin, all of them were clad in new armor. With the help of the deliverer, I ordered not only skill and stat points from Fred, but also armor and weapons. Most of these items were without stats, but I also bought “rare” and even “unique” ones, so that each warrior would have at least one item that’d give some bonuses to their stats. I also re-stocked our supply of potions and grenades.
In total, I spent 500,000 gold coins. Some money was also spent on getting stat and skill points for the Disciples, some of which I had ordered in advance…
And even though Kazimir had given me a some coin from his treasury (and by some, I mean, 300,000), our budget was slowly, but steadily, getting thinner. According to the Old Man, Kazimir finances were running low, as he had also spent coin on improving our lands. If we don’t start earning money soon, we’d have to tighten our belts — war was an extremely expensive affair.
As for me, I was optimistic about Al-Harum’s treasury. Per my agreement with the mercenaries, all loot belonged to the employer, that is, me. They would, of course, like a cut and a bonus but we’d deal with that when the times comes for it.
I was aware that we were spending a lot, but, by the Darkness, it was for a good cause — for our future. Fretting about it and regretting it was nothing but a waste of time. And time was another resource that we were running low on.
“My friends!” I said solemnly, stopping in front of my troops. “Today we’ll be setting off to join the battle! It’ll be hard! We’ll fight side by side with the Followers of Noriduel for the future of the world and for our own future! We’ve bee
n given a very important task — to capture Al-Harum and find a part of a very powerful artifact, capable to stand against the Decay! There are only two more parts of it left to find. I’ve already told you before, but I’ll say it again: once we put the artifact together, we’ll be able fight the Decay. Right now, all we’ve done was run away from it and withstand its tyranny. And even though we can last longer against it than Followers of other Gods, that’s not enough! With the power of Darkness, we’ll put the artifact back together again and have our revenge! Don’t be afraid! Those of you who’ll be fighting, fight for the people that’ll remain here! Those of you who’ll remain, believe in those who’ll be fighting for you! Our God is with us! The Darkness is with us!
“Hoorah!!!!” The approving roar of hundreds of voices sounded louder and louder.
At that moment, our patron appeared to help me with the teleportation.
He gave a short speech and after that told me to cast Elusive Darkness.
Chapter 27
Al-Harum
“Finally! I’ve gotten tired of waiting! It’s so dull being away from the others, you know!” Tael declared, getting up from a big boulder.
“Wow… We’ve really teleported!” exclaimed a voice from behind me.
“Cool!”
“Huh, I’ve gotten used to it!”
“Yeah, this isn’t our first time!”
“Quiet!” Mara shouted at the talkative soldiers.
I looked around silently. A desert. Nothing but sand for miles. The sun was shining brighter than in Dark before we teleported. Al-Harum seemed to be further east, so it dawned earlier here.
Some hundred yards away from us, the mercenaries were packing up. I could see the outlines of the city looming on the horizon.
“How did it go?” I asked Tael. Per our agreement, he was waiting for us at a safe distance from the camp, so that the new arrivals don’t hurt anyone.
“Quite well,” he nodded. “We took the route we’ve agreed upon and circled Al-Harum, keeping away from the Decay’s border. We didn’t encounter anyone, but I think that they,” he waved in the direction of the city walls, “have already noticed us. But don’t worry about it. We camped at night and didn’t light any campfires, so they’ve been aware of us only for a couple of minutes. If they have noticed us at all, that is.”
“We still ought to hurry, is what you’re saying...”
“Yeah,” Tael confirmed and headed toward the camp on foot.
Unlike him, I rode. I supposed that he wouldn’t be offended by me not dismounting; his patron was a tolerant and pleasure loving man, after all.
“I thought that it’ll be hot in a desert, but it’s pretty cold here,” came Greiv’s surprised voice from behind me.
“We’ll see if you’ll be singing the same song later,” Berg, who had been to Ishiria several times before his wife died, mumbled in reply. He recently told me that he had met his wife, a spice seller, at the market in Ekheim.
I jumped off Vella once we reached the camp and shook hands with Horn and some of the housecarls. Horn’s left hand remained outstretched, as if to remind me about the second part of his payment. Having received it, he broke into a smile and told me that we’d be ready to head out in ten minutes.
“We just have to wait for someone,” he added, taking a gulp from his wineskin.
“Whom?” I asked, tensing up almost immediately.
“Thane! Thane! Report!” Bernard ran up to us. Horn glanced at me and spread his arms, as if saying: “well, there’s your answer.”
“Negotiators?”
“Four of them. On camels.”
“Let them pass.”
Bernard ran to fulfill the order, and Horn turned to me again. He shifted his gaze to my army and nodded approvingly.
“Not bad. Not bad at all. Especially the Wolves, heh! You had us curious when you started talking about a special cavalry that no one has. It truly is special, not gonna lie. But why are your warriors so tense? Maybe you could let them relax while we wait.”
He had a point. There was so much distance and tension between my and his group that they might’ve as well been separated by a physical wall. My noble-looking army was glaring at the mercenaries with distrust. The latter, on the other hand, where whispering among themselves and chuckling.
“Kazimir, Berg, stay with them, look around the place and chat with Horn’s people. Tael, please, help them learn how to cooperate. I’m sure that you’ll manage. However, don’t let my people get drunk.” The order might’ve sounded a bit stupid, but I wasn’t an experienced general. The mercenaries had their traditions and customs, and my soldiers had their own. However, for the wall to come down, they’ll have to start to understand each other. Morale was a very important thing, especially when fighting an enemy face-to-face.
The negotiators from Al-Harum arrived in about three minutes. Horn, Kane, Mara and I met them at the camp; me on Vella, Kane and Mara on their Bull, and Horn to the left of me, on his horse. The mercenaries didn’t take many horses with them — only commanders rode them. It was very difficult to transport a herd of 700 horses by sea. Surprisingly enough, they crossed the desert on foot. Their buffs were truly a marvel.
A dozen housecarls stood on both sides of us — everyone wanted to hear what the Ishirians had to offer.
“Honorable sirs and ladies,” Duran, a level eighty-three negotiator, greeted us with a strange accent. His snow-white kaftan and turban accentuated the gray stubble on his dark face. “I must ask, are you aware that you’re on the lands that belong to Anur-Sin, the ruler of Al-Harum?”
“Yes, we are, dear Duran,” I replied politely and immediately noticed the youngest of the negotiators make a wry face. Level seven Gloominess was no joke.
“Then, may I ask, Mister Ken, why have you intentionally crossed our borders?” His words were polite, but his tone was firm. “I strongly recommend that you leave these lands at once. Life in the desert is hard, Mister Ken. It toughens a person. Our warriors won’t flinch at the sight of your army. It doesn’t look like you came here with good intentions.”
I must’ve gotten under the effect of his Eloquence and Public Speaking — I suddenly started feeling anxious and thought that it’d be a good idea to dismiss the mercenaries and go home, instead of dying by the arrows of Al-Harum’s defenders. Luckily, I quickly got a hold of myself. Had I had more doubts, his words would’ve probably changed my mind.
“How come?” I pretended to be surprised. “I’ve no bad intentions, I assure you. I just need something from Al-Harum. If you let us look for it, we won’t touch anyone. But just to make sure that our men behave, I think that 700,000 gold coins will keep their hands in their pockets and away from their weapons.”
I doubted they’d agree to let us in just like that. There was even lesser chance that they’d pay us. If by some miracle I manage to get the Part of Zurtarn and the coin without shedding blood, I’ll keep my word. But if not…
Could I have done this without mentioning the coin? Unfortunately, no. Al-Harum was just a warm-up — Longera awaited, and we definitely could use the mercenaries’ help there. I doubted that the dukes would be able to take the capital with their forces alone.
“Are those all of your conditions?” Duran asked coldly, narrowing his eyes.
“Yes,” I answered with the same coldness.
“Well, I’ll pass your words on to Anur-Sin. You’ll get your answer within an hour. Good-bye, Mister Ken. Sirs. Ladies.” He nodded and, turning his camel round, rode away. The others, giving us scornful looks, rushed after their leader.
“Decay take them, they won’t agree,” Tia grunted.
“Yeah,” Helly nodded in agreement.
I looked silently at Horn, who took a gulp of wine and just nodded.
“Somehow I think that they don’t like my offer,” I said calmly.
“Heh!” Horn broke into a smile. “Then we have to prepare for a fight. Why not greet them in person? Shall we set off to Al-Harum?”
“Yes,” I answered firmly.
About fifteen minutes later, the mercenaries finished breaking down camp, and our army set off toward our goal. We moved in a single formation. The left side was mostly mercenaries, who were on foot, while the right was my warriors, most of which were riding Wolves. The rider-less Wolves were running a bit to the side of us in a separate pack, led by Hask, the alpha and the leader that Vella had chosen. Within the pack were a lot of Cougars, which, surprisingly, followed Hask as faithfully as they did Vella. Apparently, the Old Man gave the alpha a proper title as well. Still, most of the Cougars remained to guard my lands, as that was where their home was after all.
“Don’t rush,” I quietly said, stroking Vella’s muscular neck. We had to slow down, because we had decided to march into the city.
We stopped some 200 yards away from the city wall, which was the same color as the sand that surrounded it.
“Of course, they’re waiting for us,” Tael chuckled. Now, as far as I understood it, he wasn’t a housecarl, but he still got to ride a horse. Despite being a low level, he had managed to suck up to Horn and benefit from it.
The commanders and I looked at the archers, who were angrily peeking at us from behind the battlements, ready to attack the moment they get the order.
“The time hasn’t run out yet, Mister Ken!” Duran said loudly, appearing on the wall. “You should wait a little before we give you the answer.”
“Will we wait?” Horn asked, looking at me attentively and patiently. I felt many more assessing glances on me.
“No,” I answered in a low voice and shook my head. Then I smiled to Horn. “Attack whenever you’re ready.”
Bloodlust in his eyes and smile on his lips, Horn nodded. Setting his horse to a trot, he rushed to his people in the company of several housecarls and Tael.
I was left alone with my men, free of prying eyes. I glanced over my silent and serious army. Especially gloomy were those who were once being led byKazimir’s father. This clearly wasn’t their first time on the battlefield. Though the Pampey Principalities Union was called a union, devastating wars on their territories were more frequent than wars in the countries with one king, despite him not being the sovereign.