Deia eyed the floating cylinders that raced across the ground ahead of the fleeing raid party. The sounds that came from them were similar to when Dave was using a carver to create prototypes.
Dave threw out more orbs to reinforce the Mana barrier as more burnt out and fell to the ground.
The cylinders that had been moving erratically for nearly a minute stopped their movements and rushed toward Dave. They disappeared into his bag of holding, much like Suzy’s creations did when she was changing them out or storing them for later.
Party Zero, who was acting as the rearguard, rushed over to the spot where the cylinders had been working. Deia saw the large runes that had been carved into the ground.
As they passed, Dave conjured a final rune within the floor. Power flowed out from Dave’s Abscondita armor. The runes lit up.
The Air Affinity shades reached the rune-covered area and promptly collapsed.
Gravity manipulation formation.
Dave had coded out an area where the gravity would be greatly increased. The shades that entered the area dropped to the ground; they were simple creatures and rushed into Dave’s trap. They recovered, circulating Mana to overcome the trap as they moved forward at a greatly reduced speed.
Party Zero passed the Affinity pools and jumped down the stairs.
They were halfway across the open area where the shades spawned when the light around Dave’s armor fell away and an explosion rang out behind the group.
The Affinity shades had broken Dave’s trap but the raid party was already exiting the Six Affinity Temple.
The shades continued to rush forward as the last of the raid party broke out into the bright day. The Affinity shades’ faces went slack. It was as if a switch had been flicked: they stopped their movement before slowly turning back toward the temple, slowly making their way back to their original position.
Party Zero slowed down their pace to a walk.
“Just what the hell triggered them to all rush us?” Malsour said.
“I don’t know.” Deia shook her head.
“Been awhile since I had a rush like that.” Suzy laughed.
The others in Party Zero smiled. They’d barely escaped but now that they’d made it out, they were excited.
Deia looked at them all and rolled her eyes.
“Shows that we’re still not the strongest things here,” Dave said.
“Well, we never thought that—others just said it,” Lox said.
The others agreed. Seeing that, Deia’s heart was a little lighter. She was scared that they would all get so overconfident in their abilities that it would make them a liability in the future. Having them out on the raid not only showed that they hadn’t fallen back on their training, but that they still had coordination and more importantly, that they couldn’t be lone rangers, taking on all comers by themselves.
It might be kind of a letdown that we got chased out, but, I think the lesson we learned from it was well worth it. Deia looked at them all with a smile on her lips.
“Okay, well, I’ve got to get back to work.” Dave sighed.
Deia’s hand found his. With the Jukal and the upcoming event, Dave had been pushing himself hard. “Well, how about instead of getting buried in work, why don’t we go and check out the Dwarven tournament. Isn’t the semifinals and finals tomorrow?” Deia looked to everyone.
“Well…” Suzy began.
“We’d love to!” Induca flew up next to Suzy and grabbed her hand.
“I’m in the mood to watch a fight,” Malsour said.
“You know we’re there.” Steve’s hands wrapped around Lox and Gurren’s shoulders.
The clang of metal on metal made everyone wince.
“Great—got three metal heads now,” Dave complained.
“Hey, you made these beauties!” Gurren’s two thumbs pointed at his armored body.
“Why do I have a feeling that I’m going to regret it?” Dave looked to Deia.
She shook her head and giggled slightly. “Oh, Anna, bring Alkao as well. I’ll invite Quindar and Fornau.” Deia’s words were more like an order.
“Yes, ma’am,” Anna said dryly.
The others chuckled. As much as Anna said she didn’t want to go out with Alkao, they all knew one another enough to read her and her emotions.
She was too stubborn for her own good. Thankfully Alkao was equally as stubborn.
Chapter 37: Dwarven Tournament’s Finals
Dave smiled as Deia came through the portal. With her were Anna, Alkao, Quindar, and Fornau. The rest of Party Zero as well as a number of the Dwarven Master Smiths were already there and waiting.
The new arrivals and those waiting greeted one another as they set out from the teleport pad.
Dave had cleaned up after the fight, now wearing a simple set of pants and shirt instead of his armor and weapons.
Deia interlinked her arm with his, a smile on her face as she leaned against him.
He kissed the top of her head, the smell of freshly washed hair filling his senses.
They were all waiting in Terra. People were talking in excited tones, the different Dwarven Master Smiths boasting about the warriors who had come from their respective mountains and their achievements.
There was only one Dwarf left in the match, born and raised in Aldamire: Ondae was one of the hidden masters. He had a Weapon of Power but didn’t use it in the matches to be fair to the other contestants.
Ondae was a name held in the hearts of the Dwarves. Many of the various hidden masters around Emerilia didn’t want to join in on the fights; using their hidden trump cards would make it easier for other forces to defeat them in the future. They were the hidden strength of the Dwarves. Although Ondae was fighting for the sake of competition, many believed that he was hiding his own trump cards for just this reason.
The last couple of rounds were being held within Aldamire. It was the largest Dwarven mountain and hosted the last of the matches.
“It’s hard to think that the prison is supposed to be opening up in just a few weeks,” Deia said softly.
“I know. Though, I talked to Bob—it seems he will have somewhere safe for you and your cousin’s children to go,” Dave said.
“Me? I’m not going anywhere,” Deia said angrily.
“If you’re pregnant, you are.” Dave’s voice was icy. He didn’t want to argue and if she was angry with him, he was fine with that. Otherwise he might lose her and their unborn child.
Dave’s harsh words momentarily stunned her.
He looked at her with unwavering eyes.
Any arguments she had rose to her lips but never made them past in the face of his stare and the cold logic behind it.
“We will talk about this later,” Deia resolved.
“No, let’s finish it here. If you’re pregnant, you’re not going out and fighting. If I see you out there fighting, I will teleport your ass back to the laboratory, every damn time. I don’t care if the Jukal notice,” Dave said. “I’m not doing this to just fight you—I’m doing this because I love you too much to lose you and I’m willing to argue my ass off and piss you off as long as you’re safe.”
Dave’s tone warmed, as he felt truly vulnerable. He had never loved someone as he loved Deia. Seeing her hurt, or with her and his child in danger, troubled his heart.
Deia’s eyes softened and her chin quivered a bit. “Okay. If things turn bad, I’ll stay with Bob. Otherwise, I’ll stay down here doing what I can,” Deia conceded, her words quiet. She understood Dave’s love for her and his protective spirit. She could not ask for a better man to be at her side.
Dave turned her so she faced him and wrapped his arms around her. His powerful arms were gentle to as to not put pressure on the baby between them.
“Thank you, firecracker,” Dave said, genuine relief in his voice as his entire body seemed to relax. He kissed Deia’s head.
Deia looked up at Dave with a saucy expression, puckering her lips. Dave laughed and kissed her l
ips. She let out a content noise, turning and leaning against Dave’s shoulder. He kept his arms around her, wishing that the moment never ended.
The crowd in Terra were all talking in excited tones as the teleport pad flared to life and the bustling streets of Aldamire came into view.
“Now connected to Aldamire!” an automaton declared.
The waiting group walked through the teleport pad and into Aldamire.
Dwarven shield bearers watched them all. Their commander bowed deeply to the mass of Dwarven Master Smiths who came through. The smiths nodded to the forces there and continued on their way, returning to their excited chatter, whether it was about what they had been working on, the match coming up, or just random conversation.
The commander’s eyes went wide as Steve, Lox, and Gurren walked through, the last two wearing their Devastator armor.
The Dwarven shield bearers’ stony expressions shifted slightly as they looked upon the two massive Weapons of Power.
Lox and Gurren’s armor nodded to them as they continued to talk to Steve.
“No, I’m telling you, you’ve got to try using the Air enchantments on your joints!” Gurren said.
“Yes, we’ll be faster, but then they’re weaker,” Lox said.
“Then we’ve just got to increase our Intelligence to compensate. If we can react fast enough, we can switch between Air and Dark Affinity enchantments. Move like wind, smack like Steve’s axe,” Gurren said, his last words stilted, as if impersonating a caveman.
“Thanks,” Steve said with a wide smile.
“I don’t know if that was a compliment or not,” Induca said beside Suzy.
Suzy just shrugged. Lu Lu, resting on her shoulders, let out a complaining screech. “Someone’s moody because I’m talking about my other soul-bound creature, aren’t they.” Suzy scratched under Lu Lu’s chin.
Lu Lu’s upset expression soon turned to pleased purring under Suzy’s expert itching.
Induca giggled as her fingers scratched between Lu Lu’s wings.
Under her two moms’ petting, Lu Lu’s expression turned to one of relaxed bliss, happy to have her two Human servants put their hands to real work!
***
Malsour watched over it all and he smiled. His heart had been tight with worry over the last couple of months. With the loss of members from his own family, a thread of anger had weaved its way into his heart. He had wanted to fight the heavens then and there, to go all out and attack the Jukal that dared to bring this pain to his family.
Over time, he had calmed down his emotions, dealing with them and holding them back, promising himself that later, he would deal with these issues in his heart, and he would make those who hurt his family pay for what they had done.
His analytical and calculating mind had returned, now that the pain within his heart unraveled a bit. Steve, Lox, and Gurren were talking with the various Dwarven Master Smiths, making plans for drinks as well as talking about the competitions and their different armors and weapons. Dave and Deia were talking to each other softly, glued to each other, in their own world.
Suzy and Induca were similarly keeping to themselves, relieving the stresses over the last couple of weeks and giving Lu Lu attention. The little lightning phoenix seemed very pleased with the state of the world.
Malsour looked to Quindar, Fornau, Anna, Alkao, and Jung Lee.
Jung Lee looked around Aldamire with surprise across his face. His face looked younger as he stared at these new sights. Jung Lee had spent his days moving around Terra. As a potion master, he had been excited and thrilled by the rare and powerful ingredients that passed through Terra. He’d spent days just walking through the various potion gardens located within the growing towers. He’d also been practicing with his sword in the various training areas.
Still, everything was a shock to him. Malsour hoped that he would join the Stone Raiders. They had helped Jung Lee escape, as they felt it was the right thing to do. Sure, he might help them later on, but that wasn’t their main reason.
Jung Lee excitedly conversed with Anna, Alkao, Quindar, Fornau, and Malsour. They had all been around longer than most people on Emerilia. There was a thread of familiarity between them all.
Here, no one was rushing to work on a project, or training up fighters, or readying themselves for a fight. For just tonight, they could push those worries off. They were just a big group of friends going to see a grand tournament and have a night without worries.
***
The two semifinals were going on in the morning while the finals would be held in the afternoon.
All around Aldamire, people were in a festive mood. The mountain city’s outer reaches, where people were allowed to roam, were filled with all manner of people. Food and drink flowed easily as bards sung of the great battles that had occurred and others talked of the upcoming matches.
The actual arenas had been erected around Aldamire Mountain. With thousands of Dwarves, it had taken a few days for them to make the arenas as well as the massive fortifications that could keep out anything that Ashal’s wilderness produced.
Today, the group from Terra had come to see Ondae and Iswul fight. Ondae was an Earth-attribute melee fighter; Iswul was an Orc berserker, unlike the normal Earth or even Dark affinity Orcs, Iswul was blessed with and affinity for water. Among Orcs, it was rare to find another with this water affinity.
The arenas that surrounded the mountain now showed massive projections that would make it appear as if the fighters were within these arenas. The real fights would take place within two massive arenas that had been built on the two second-tallest peaks of Aldamire Mountain.
People swarmed through the mountain. Dwarven shield bearers kept order, not afraid to offend someone or throw them out of their territory for a moment. The Dwarves’ temperament was well known and very few wanted to create a disturbance with them. It allowed the atmosphere to be festive instead of tense with people fighting outside the arena as well as within it.
The group navigated through the rising levels and different groups of vendors. It didn’t take long until they reached the arena. The arena thrummed with energy and voices as they were escorted to an area that had been set aside for their group.
Everyone took their seats. People were talking excitedly as they pointed at members of Party Zero as well as the famed Dwarven Master Smiths.
It wasn’t long after they took their seats that the contestants appeared.
The announcer was actually drowned out by the cheers and cries of the audience.
Ondae waved slightly before looking to Iswul. Ondae’s armor looked simple but to Dave’s eyes, he could see the great workmanship that had gone into making this armor.
Iswul’s armor was much larger than Ondae’s. It wasn’t pretty but it was decently made. The massive set of armor made him look like a hunched moving tank.
His helmet was open, allowing one to see his scarred, green-skinned face. His right tusk had been broken off at the halfway point; both tusks had been carved into elaborate tribal markings. Above his right eye and on his left cheek, there was a scar that ended where his tusk was. The attack that had taken his tusk had also left a deep scar on his face.
In his hands, he held a small rounded shield as well as a sword that would have to be used with two hands by most people.
With his weight, Iswul didn’t seem encumbered; instead, he seemed to be walking as if he were out on a stroll.
Ondae and Iswul’s eyes were locked on each other’s, eyeing their opponent carefully. To get to this stage, they both knew that the other was to not be underestimated.
They stepped onto the large stage set in the middle of the arena. The two ignored the crowd, totally focused on each other as a Mana barrier erupted around them.
The crowd’s volume slowly got under control as the announcer waited for them.
“Welcome to the semifinals! From this battle, the two contestants for the first place in this here Dwarven tournament will be decided!”
Once again the crowd erupted into excited cheers.
Everyone got themselves under control again as Ondae and Iswul slowly walked around the outside of the stage, studying the other for any sign of a weakness or possible advantage that they might have. They looked over the other’s gear, their strides.
Both of them were great fighters; any shred of evidence that they could gain now might lead to victory later on.
“Let the battle begin!” the announcer yelled.
Ondae’s shield jumped up as if it were sentient. The stones beneath his feet cracked as he surged forward.
Iswul leaped forward as well. Just before they were about to meet, Iswul moved out of the path of Ondae, perfectly anticipating his strike.
Ondae spun and turned; his shield, modeled after the same ones used by the warclans, had its tell-tale twin spikes slammed into the ground. Ondae braced himself.
Iswul, who had moved like an eel to escape Ondae’s strike, moved as if there were not hundreds of pounds of armor on his body. His sword seemed to move slowly as it collided with Ondae’s shield.
Iswul’s movements flowed from one to the next, as if water drifting between boulders and then hit as if that water fell from a great height.
Ondae’s shield rang with the impact. He was thrown back five steps as the twin pegs on his shield left deep grooves in the ground. Ondae’s sword jabbed outward, so fast that it was but a silver blur.
Iswul once again bent and moved as if his body were boneless.
Dave’s eyes saw the thin silver line that appeared across Iswul’s shoulders where Ondae’s blade had passed.
Iswul’s eyes seemed to take on a red glow from underneath his helmet. His movements sped up, his blade once again darting out toward Ondae’s shield.
The two clashed. Ondae turned, pulling his shield free of the ground as their swords and shields clashed. With every impact, the very air around them quaked with expended power; when a blow landed, the other’s feet left deep impacts in the ground.
The crowd was completely silent, none of them daring to blink or look away as the two masters clashed.
Time of Change (Emerilia Book 7) Page 45