The Nalheim were stunned as their badly wounded started to recover as they were covered by these healing spells.
After all, the mage’s guild had very similar rules regarding injured. No matter if they were allies or the enemy, they were supposed to receive the same care.
The Nalheim didn’t have healers and let their wounded die; if a few of them died, then it would be easier on the rest of their people to survive.
“It looks like the Nalheim have come to pledge themselves to Malsour. They recognized his strength and see him as a worthy master.” Deia sounded confused by it all. These proud warriors were willing to submit to Malsour in order to hopefully gain a place for their people to live and raise their young.
Josh frowned at Deia’s information. “Okay, well, if you can make them our allies or keep them docile and helping out, then that’s all we can do. Otherwise their people are just going to keep coming through the portal until we’re having to fight children and the old,” Josh said.
The Nalheim were in dire straits. In a few years, their people would no longer be able to have children. This was their last chance: either they would fight and win or die. Now, with the possibility of surrender, they were being given another possible option.
“How is the troop movement going?” Josh asked Cassie beside him.
“We have people from all of the castles moving through the onos back to Terra and then through to the orcish swamplands. We’ve got a number of fresh units moving out while others go to rest; they will make it to the swamplands in time. We’ve sent mages for the most part. Marching an army through the swamps would just get them stuck. However, the mages can get there in smaller groups and support the orcs and gnomes. The leader of the group of summoners and tamers is already at the spawn point. Heroiu’quing says that she believes that the orcs and gnomes will be able to soul bind the blood reevers to them. Also, she gained their promise to assist in the forming of the Gudalo republic and supporting the Terra Alliance,” Cassie said.
Josh nodded. There was less than thirty-three hours until the spawn point in the orc and gnome swamplands opened. “Looks like everything is handled on that side of things.”
“Still, you look like you’ve got something else weighing on your mind.” Cassie used her interface as she talked.
Josh took a deep breath and his hands rested on the first eastern castle’s walls. “By the end of one spawn point being activated, another is usually in place, but we have not been able to find out where this next spawn point is. It has to be out there somewhere.”
Cassie stopped working on her interface. She, too, had these kinds of thoughts. “There’s nothing we can do but keep out a watchful eye. We don’t know what’s coming or where it’s coming, but we have the might of the Terra Alliance behind us. That is no simple thing,” Cassie reminded him.
“Yes, but I can’t shake the feeling that we’re going to overextend ourselves dealing with all of these calamities, unable to last through it all or the battle that is coming with the angels.”
Cassie didn’t say anything else. In the past, she might have joked about it, but after finding out the reality of Emerilia and Earth, it was hard to joke around with matters that involved Emerilia.
***
The talks finally came to an end. It had taken nearly two days but finally an agreement that the mage’s guild agreed to had been made.
“The Nalheim recognize Malsour Dracul as their king and will submit to becoming indentured servants to him. Malsour Dracul will allow them to live within the Densaou Ring of Fire. The Nalheim will no longer attack other races proactively, unless it is done in self-defense. They may allow another person to take on their indentured contract if they, Malsour Dracul, and the person taking the contract agree to the conditions. All of the Nalheim military will be indentured for five years. Their people will be brought from their homeland and moved to the Densaou Ring of Fire.
“As compensation, the planet Nal will be gifted to the Terra Alliance and Malsour Dracul,” Steve said.
Rendar’s eyebrows rose as he looked at Malsour, still in his dragon form, with a complicated look.
Steve then said the same agreement in the language of the Nalheim. Once he was finished, a prompt appeared in front of Malsour and the general. This was their binding contract. They both agreed to the conditions.
The general turned. Raising his voice, it cut through the silent battlefield. All of the Nalheim looked to him. They were willing to lay down their lives so that their people might get another chance to survive.
The general’s words ended as the Nalheim’s heads looked to one another. They might be from another species but Deia was able to see what she had come to see as their version of shock and the excitement that was held within their eyes.
Suddenly the Nalheim slapped their feet on the ground, faster and faster until the ground shook with the stomping. They started yelling, screaming, and moving their heads around wildly.
“Looks kind of like the New Zealand haka, but with a hell of a lot more heads,” Steve said. “I hope it’s not their war dance, but their greeting.”
“Well, thanks for adding that little bit of doubt,” Deia muttered.
“That’s what I’m here for—keeping things interesting!” Steve laughed.
Deia snorted and shook her head. A small smile grew on her face.
The general joined in on the chant, facing Malsour and the negotiation group. It went on for about ten minutes before it finally started to settle down. They planted a fist in the ground and bent their bodies forward, lowering their heads.
“Tell them that first they are to gather up their people, to get them ready for the journey ahead. They have one week to be ready. They will wait inside Goblin Mountain. I will have some of the dragons come to meet them and guide them to the ring of fire. Right now I will take two of their people with me to check out the ring of fire,” Malsour said.
Steve translated. A second general rode his gryphon to where Malsour and the first general was.
An Aleph scout appeared next to Malsour. “I have used Steve’s language matrix on this automaton. It will be capable of translating for you.” Shard’s voice came from the automaton.
“Thank you, Shard,” Malsour said. With a wave of his hand, the automaton disappeared into his storage ring. “Tell them to follow me.”
Steve translated; the first general jumped onto his gryphon.
Malsour’s massive wings flapped.
Deia and Rendar used Mana shields to stop the dust that was thrown up with Malsour’s massive wing beats as he rose into the sky.
Deia felt her heart tremble as she smiled up at Malsour as he continued to rise into the sky. His aura was deep and incredibly powerful; it was almost as powerful as Deia’s if she was to actually allow it out into the world.
The generals on their gryphons followed after their new king, not daring to be slow in anyway. Their gryphons followed their commands but it was clear that they had deference toward Malsour.
Deia looked to Rendar, who was still staring in the sky. Seeing a dragon or the mythical Nalheim was incredible; to be able to talk to a creature from another realm as well as a dragon was beyond any expectations. Rendar was still in a state of shock. Now that the negotiations were complete, he was left with his mind turning over.
“Rendar, we know that the truth of the dragons will come out at some time, but we hope to keep it a secret for as long as possible. After all, if others know, then our enemies will find out,” Deia said.
Rendar looked to Deia. His gaze turned to Steve, understanding in his eyes.
Party Zero were famed throughout Emerilia. They were not people he wanted to annoy. Also, if he was to freely spread this information, then it might be used against the Stone Raiders and the dragons if they came in aide of Rendar’s family or the mage’s guild and college.
“I understand. Overseers know how to keep their lips closed,” Rendar said with a reassuring smile.
Deia�
�s hard expression fell away as Steve smiled.
“All right. Now, where’s Dave? I need him to make me a set of armor!” Steve turned toward the castle.
Overseers moved down toward the Nalheim. Now that the agreement had been made, the Nalheim had stepped down and the overseers were to take over.
The Terra Alliance kept their people on alert even as they sent out healers with a large guard force to heal up those with the worst wounds who hadn’t been completely healed by the large scale area of effect.
Deia found Party Zero waiting for her back in the castle. Already the mages were quickly repairing the castle from the inside.
“You metal-brained idiot!” Gurren moved to greet Steve.
“Hey! No more metal.” Steve opened up his arms and turned side to side slightly.
“Hmm, a very interesting construct.” Jekoni floated around Steve and inspected him.
“You’re not possessing me!” Steve jumped away from Jekoni.
“How many times do I have to tell you I’m not that kind of spirit!” Jekoni complained.
Party Zero watched their antics, greeting Steve in his new form.
“A whole new planet.” Dave moved to Deia with a smile.
“I had to get knocked up by the wanderlust explorer.” Deia sighed.
“What? Don’t tell me you don’t want to explore it too.” Dave grinned.
Deia pursed her lips; the corners of her mouth lifted upward.
“That’s what I thought.” Dave laughed with a knowing smile.
Deia elbowed his armor as Dave grunted slightly. “So, why is everything getting repaired? It’s not like we’re going to be using this place for long.” Deia looked to the castle.
“Well, I wouldn’t say that,” Dave said.
“What are you planning?” Deia asked.
The others looked from their own conversation with Steve. If they knew one thing, it was that when Dave decided to do a project, it was going to be anything but simple.
“We’re going to make citadels!” Dave looked at the castle with a large smile on his face.
***
“Prepare yourselves!” Ursk’s deep and rough voice called out to the people who filled the defensive structures around the spawn point.
The area around the spawn point had changed wildly from when it had been visited by Party Zero.
Now their simple soul gem construct covered the entire area around the spawn point, extending outward to touch upon the surrounding defenses that the orcs and gnomes had built and then been improved upon by the various mages who had come just a day ago. Within a single day, they were able to raise stone and metal defenses, strengthening the defenses a hundredfold.
Ursk had heard of the abilities of these mages but without seeing them for himself, he had thought of them as wild tales.
The Air mages who had come had made complex runes on the various buildings and created a magical circle that had cleared the swamp’s natural fog away from the spawn point. They could easily see the spawn point. Many of the orcs and gnomes had never been able to see this far in their lives.
This, even more than the metal and stone that had risen out of the ground, was enough to make the gnomes and orcs look at the mages with newfound respect.
The summoners had worked tirelessly together in order to figure out the best spell formations, magical circles, and summoning rituals they should combine in order to give the orcs and gnomes the greatest chance to bind with the blood reevers.
The beast tamers had done their best to figure out the type of creature that the blood reever was and also tell the gnomes and orcs what to expect. They had included ways in which to subdue different creatures. The summoners had also taught them how to activate the various magical formations and circles that they had created and made magical contracts with all of the orcs and gnomes.
They’d sorted people out from the strongest of Willpower and Ability to the weakest.
They had completely changed the orcs’ and gnomes’ ways of thinking toward beasts and controlling them. Still, all of this work was to give the orcs and gnomes a chance to take command of the blood reevers. It was up to them in order to complete the soul binding rituals.
Ursk had even been contacted by Josh Giles himself. He had discussed how he could move forces into the swamplands in order to help the gnomes and orcs to defend their territory.
Josh knew that as soon as an army made it into the swamplands, they would get bogged down. The work to get them to the defenses around the spawn point would be great.
Ursk had turned down his offer. The Terra Alliance had given them the tools and the abilities in order to turn the blood reevers from their enemy into their beasts.
It will be up to us if we win or fail. These were heavy thoughts but Ursk had an excitement in his eyes. He was an orc who lived on the edge of his axe; he had fought for his position, and then for territory, always pushing forward and growing his influence.
Now he once again faced a challenge that seemed impossible. This was what made him feel alive, what ignited the blood within his veins and raised his fighting spirit.
“The spawn point is activating!” someone called out.
Players who had come from all over Emerilia watched from the skies, trees, and around the defenses.
Ursk and his people had made it clear that the players were not to interfere. Only if the blood reevers weren’t brought under the power of the soul binding contracts would they be free to kill and slaughter.
Ursk stepped onto a magical circle. The soul gem construct had multiple magical circles built into them, with one massive magical circle that surrounded the spawn point.
The gnomes and orcs all stood in their various magical circles. Their faces were grim and determined. This would be unlike any battle that they had ever fought before. But if they were able to win against the blood reevers, it would come with a victory that they couldn’t even imagine in their entire lifetimes.
The counter for the spawn point hit zero. The various moving parts of the spawn point stopped moving. A second later, a flash of light made Ursk and the others who were looking in the direction of the spawn point raise their arms to try to block out that burning brightness.
Suddenly the area within the defensive circle and massive magical circle was filled with hundreds of creatures.
Blood reevers! Ursk thought excitedly. Blood reevers were wolves as large as a war horse. They had black fur that shimmered red slightly as they moved. Spit fell from their jaws as they looked at those surrounding them with black eyes.
Ursk felt his soul shiver as he looked into one of the blood reever’s eyes. “Begin the soul binding!” Ursk yelled, pulling people out of their daze.
The reevers let out their howls, moving into packs as they started forward.
Magical circles around the spawn point lit up. Runes flared to life as they interacted with the massive magical circle that surrounded the reevers.
The reevers that were moving forward now looked as if the gravity underneath them had tripled. They bared their teeth. Their eyes found the eyes of those who were actively using the soul binding magical circle.
Ursk looked out at a massive reever. The magical circle was supposed to not only increase the power that he exerted, but weaken the power of the beasts within. It showed how great the power of the blood reevers was as they continued to resist the combined pressure that the orcs and gnomes put on them.
Ursk let out an angered yell as he slapped his chest. This was a battle of his will against the blood reevers. He was not going to lose!
Other orcs and gnomes yelled out their defiance. The blood reevers growled back.
Not all of the orcs and gnomes were as strong of spirit as they collapsed, cold sweat covering their bodies. With each who failed, the power of the reevers would increase.
The summoners, now with a better understanding of the blood reevers, changed the magical circles and formations that they had created. The pressure lessened as some
of those who had collapsed once again stood in their positions and fought back.
The first reever bowed its head, lying down on the ground in submission.
A prompt appeared in front of one of the orcs, who let out a proud roar. They accepted the contract.
The blood reever, now under its new master’s control, stood up easily. The Magical Circuit had no power over it now as it no longer resisted its master’s commands. The reever moved out of the magical circle, lying down behind its new master.
Its master didn’t even step out of his own magical circle. He had won control over his blood reever but there were still nearly two thousand left.
The battle of wills continued on. The beast tamers moved around, telling people of ways to increase the power of their will. Here and there, reevers bowed down in submission; a soul binding contract was burned up and a new reever left the magical circle.
However, sometimes this wasn’t the case as a reever that had bowed down still had the strength to break the contract that was placed upon it.
New contracts were handed out. As the gnomes and orcs wore down the reevers, more and more contracts were formed.
Ursk felt the back and forth between the reevers, the pressure on his mind as he could do nothing but try to exert his own pressure upon their minds and endure the conflict of Willpower. The creature that he had been trying to create a soul binding contract with finally slipped up, their Willpower not as strong as Ursk’s. He struck then, forcing his will upon the reever’s.
It was as if a dam had broken and water was now flowing through freely. Ursk was the water while the reever’s Willpower was the walls of the dam. Without pause, Ursk pulled out the soul binding contract, going through the motions that he had memorized long ago. Before the blood reever had time to even think of fighting back again, Ursk’s soul binding contract fell over the beast.
Ursk was breathing heavily with ragged breaths. He felt a connection form in his mind; with a thought, the blood reever stood and walked toward Ursk, following his commands.
Ursk let out a relieved laugh. His body was covered in sweat but he had won the battle and claimed a blood reever!
Beyond All Expectations (Emerilia Book 8) Page 28