Beyond The Wall

by Pwyll Duggan

  "Drink a little, slowly." I do as she says, feeling the cool water wash down my dry throat. Continuing she goes on. "Had to remove the armor pieces through your body, and the shrapnel from the crown. Took a while, healing then getting them out, healing again. Be a few more hours until we get to the wall, closer to night then. Just rest. I'll tell your girlfriend later. She's sort of scary when she gets mad."

  She canters off, not that I could see her anyway. I hear people talking, pain and weariness in their voices, yet happy and anxious to get home. Sylar and his gang hiss around also, being told off for being close to the wagon. Although I can feel pain in my whole body, I stay wary of them. They set my hairs on end. I listen out for them and take stock of what I can feel on me. Nothing, maybe boxers. No weapons or magic items are on me. Princess and Doll are here, or nearby. Princess seems happy with me near.

  Friend okay? Healing?

  "Yeah Princess. Getting there anyway. You been fed?"

  Wife feed me on Night One and Greenskins. Refined. Stored in Container. Help Container Heal.

  "Good. Thank you." My voice has attracted attention, the scuttling of armored feet, going really fast.

  Nyssa rocks the cart when she impacts the side, voice full of concern.

  "Paul are you okay? Feeling better? Bandages too tight?"

  "Getting there Nyssa. Thank you for looking after me." I feel her hands running along my body, checking wounds and bandages.

  "No pain? Did we miss anything?" I put my hands up, searching for hers.

  "All good, honestly. Just need to rest and let the regeneration do its thing." She grabs one hand in hers then slaps my arm.

  "Don't risk yourself like that again!" her voice has changed from concern to severe. "You should have died! If your bones were weaker or you didn't have that regeneration, you would be dead!"

  "Sorry gorgeous. Couldn't leave these people as slaves. Forgive me?" Her hands are now running over my head, undoing the bandages.

  "Your head had thirty-seven minor wounds, twenty-two with shrapnel, fourteen golden shrapnel. Three around the right eye. Shattered breastplate was inside your stomach matching extensive lacerations over your upper and lower backs. Doll held those together, but you lost a lot of blood from the ruptures in your stomach. Stitching and potions held you together while we removed all the foreign objects in your body. Niall reset your arms and hands, using his hammers at one stage. I bandaged you all up. With Mary's help, she is not a girlfriend - got that?"

  The tone in her voice clear as day, masking her worry.

  "Yes boss" seems the safest reply.

  "Good, we looted the lair. THEN we blockaded the ramp up out of Cratertown to stop the dead spreading at night." She pauses for breath, bandages now off, long fingers checking all her stitches along my skull. She moves my head back and forth, eying it all in detail and keeps talking. "We have 127 residents for the Grove and the rest, 285 are from Kawaba - including the six other worlders. Most are in ill-health. The journey won't kill them. Their spirits are rising the closer we get." Pauses again. "You'll have your work cut out for you there."

  She moves even closer, rocking the cart a little. She blushes and uses a hushed tone.

  "Are you staying there tonight?" I smile.

  "Yeah, sorry. I will be back asap in the morning."

  "Asap?"

  "As soon as possible." She nods.

  "Good." She stands in silence, holding my hand as I lay back and rest.

  Garrot and family get the wagon train going again as they arrive. Reiji is going from group to group, offering food and water, or healing as needed. I acknowledge him a few times, getting the same nod in response. Sitting up, watching Mary pull all three wagons really shows her increased strength. Aron and Lilly are flanking the group and Garrot wanders on up to me.

  "Never seen someone fail so hard at dying." He hops up on the wagon, sitting next to me. He puts his hand out to me. I start to shake it and he clasps his other over the top.

  "Thank you for getting them back." His voice is cracking, eyes closed but tears forming. "You bought back Carrol's husband... and my wife." His eyes pop open, staring honestly at me. "I owe you everything." Tears run down his cheeks.

  "Well then," I free my right hand, getting Princess with a shout, and grab down on his arm with my left. "Don't move." I think refine and let then Spirita flow out of me, down the sword and back into my chest. Once I feel like I've eaten a large meal I let it all out, into Garrot.

  He glows slowly, slightly, at first. It seeps into his skin. Into his hair and he starts glowing. And then it recedes, losing its luminance, turning normal again. He's looking around amazed, flexing fingers, staring at trees, then his kids. As he turns to me, I start talking.

  "I need defenders for my home. It'll lower my work load and I get to spend time with my friends. Send the kids over and thank me tomorrow." He hastens to get his kids.

  Lilly and Aron come over as one and I reach out thru the sword again, refining and flowing Spirita into them. Again, the light builds and fades, 'upping' both of them. Nyssa watches on in wonder, eyes never leaving me. Our procession of the displaced are all now gossiping widely, when not pointing at the newly 'upped'. Palm up I curl my fingers at her, calling her over. She strolls over with a nervous gait, coming to my side.

  I pull her to me by her waist and kiss her deep, long and let the power flow. Lovingly and longer than needed. She glows bright, the energy flowing through her. She breaks our hug and rears back, her body changing slightly. Her feet hit the ground hard as the light fades. Her hair is longer, limbs a little bigger. Her smile is brighter, wider and full of happiness. She rushes forward, lips plant to mine, arms almost crushing me in her hug.

  Her kisses are short, inter spaced with breaths and ‘thank you’. One cannot just go with the flow, so I kiss back, a lot. Relief floods thru my mind, relaxing my muscles, calming me to the core. Stopping doesn't cross my mind until "Master?" comes from our sides.

  I'm blushing, a bit embarrassed and extremely happy. Nyssa's the same, finger pushing her longer hair around. It looks finer, more silk like. All eight eyes are sparkling, water running along them. She starts crying, a happy cry.

  "Shall we continue moving master?" I get from a muted Mary next to me.

  "Please." She starts moving, getting Nyssa to walk next to her. They start talking in hushed tones. Mary seems to be asking the most questions, Nyssa's hands unsure what to do as she answers, occasionally looking at me. Girls talking like that is never good.

  I'm barefoot, walking down the road next to the cart, half a robe over my lower half, bandages wrapping the rest of my skin. Of which only some are still white, most others a pale red stain runs through. Scarily it means to only way I look different from the others is that I am well fed. Walking doesn’t hurt, guess the resting bonus is working. It also helps to clear my head.

  We make average time, the wall looming over us the whole time. The forest is full of sounds and not the faintest trace of enemies in the area. Feels like the forest is waiting for the next shoe to drop, same as I am. Niall is next to me, hammers in hand. No ideas when that happened, announcing himself with a whistling tune. It's a marching tune, rhythm getting all nearby in step, like lightening our loads. Internal and external.

  "Music is where me passion is. Greenies see a dwarf - sent to tha forge. Idjits that they are. Songs are words for the soul. Powers there when ya need it. Um, what I'm trying to say is I'll work for ya, if ya need." I look down at him from the corner of my eye.

  "Well you are my squire. Right height and all that." He snorts.

  "Donna ya start with the height jokes, ended badly for the last troll that did."

  "You calling me a Troll there stunty?" He grins.

  "Watch the mouth boyo - only one thing at this height I can headbutt." I move shockingly fast, covering my crown jewels.

  "No fair, I need to use these tomorrow when I get back."

  The belly laugh is full, low and loud. Punch sla
ms into my hip, knocking me off balance a little.

  "Squire it is then. Any orders fer me while you're away?"

  "Get the gear back to The Grove, look after my friends and make sure everyone is fine." I think for a second, pulling on my beard.

  "Catalog the gear and get me a list. Also list what food stores the Grove will need, I can get that from the village later then." He bows to me, fist to heart.

  "Yes, Sir Knight of the Shield, your humble servant obeys." Chuckling I reply.

  "Humble my arse. Need to teach you that song by Randy Newman, it's an oldie but a goodie.... Short People, short people got no reason to liivvee." Singing I run off to the front, dodging the punch and kick that followed.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  The blackness of the Wall fills my vision. The survivors had all stopped and nervously milled around, unsure what to do. Reiji at the front, facing the wall, hesitating. I project my voice over the crowd.

  "Go to your families. Tell them everything." Pausing I look them all over. "They miss you all. Go." Reiji stands tall, then strides through. The Wall swallows him whole. No sounds comes thru. Another walks thru, setting off the wave of the walking wounded, weak and the desperate.

  I watch, seeing their hope and fears flash across their faces. Keeping track of the other worlders I make sure they pass through. Dropping my hand on Niall's shoulders I nod to him and unhook Mary.

  "Take the gear. I'll take the injured across." They gather the gear, Nyssa's wrapping the bundles in silk, making it easy to carry. Mary lashes chests to her flanks and back, Nyssa bundles most to her abdomen. She comes forward, crying again.

  I wipe the tears from her lower eyes.

  "Tomorrow is ours now. The Grove, The village, all safe for a while. Be back tomorrow with as much food as I can pull in these carts - Promise." Kissing her is almost as hard as letting her go. Responsibilities. I have responsibilities. Garrot shakes my hand, Lilly hugs me, and Aron does our fist bump. Mary salutes and Niall stands close and whispers.

  "Guess the game changes now, from survival to politics?" Worry changes my features.

  "Yup. Hate it. Just want to do my job and, and, well live my life, I guess. Spend time with my friends. That shit's too complex for me. See an enemy, kill an enemy. What I was brought here for." I hold out my hand, shaking his by the wrist.

  "Watch out for my friends and see what that singing voice of yours can find out." He laughs.

  "Pipes boyo, I play the pipes." He turns still laughing under his breath and walks away. I wave, Princess at my shoulder and grab the cart by the two shafts and pull it through the wall, into the chaos beyond.

  Carefully slowing my load as I broke thru to the other side, all I could see was the mass of people, everywhere. Shouts, screams of joy, crying come from the two distinct crowds, impacting together in hugs and cheers. "MAKE WAY!" I shouted, scaring a path in front of me. The sea of people part, allowing me to stop both wagons in place. I bend over, ripping a stone from the ground in each hand. I blocked both wheels of the front cart and shout. "Injured in the back - help them now!"

  Heads bob up from the rear wagon as people flocked forward seeing what they can do. Mari stands stock still, looking in shock at the man before her. Tears forming in her eyes. She'll be no use for a while. "Amaya! Amaya!" I shout, forcing myself through the crowd, heading for the temple. I plant my feet, stopping the ever-increasing pull on my body. Amaya runs towards me. I use her shoulders to stop me going forward, holy fuck it's strong. She buckles a little under the pressure, eyes wide at what it means.

  "Before the Stone gets me - Get Molly out of the house and safely to her parents. The six other worlders in this group are not to be trusted. Let the guards on the house know, get whatever stuff is there out to Barin's. Go!" She nods, confused but runs off, parting the crowd before her. The far temple steps have Chen and Rose standing there. A short, fat balding man in red and gold extravagant robes is there, not looking amused. Next to him stands his opposite. A tall, thin man, light hair, respectable business suit, scribbling away in a note book. Wonder and awe in his eyes as he writes away. Male version of Nyssa there almost.

  I push down and leap up and over the crowd, aiming well short of the temple steps, hoping the pull of The Stone is as bad as I estimate. If anything, luck guides me, the first step near my landing and the pull halted by planting both feet on the lip of the steps. "Clear I path, it's pulling me in!" I shout, finally losing my balance. I tumble by them, knocking some of them over.

  Door splinters as I rocket thru and impact the Stone, chest first. Ribs crack, head bounces of the Stone's top. Feels likes my bloods being pulled out my pores. Mouth opens as wide as it can as I howl in pain. Brain is peppered with needles, hot and cold. Throat almost seizing from the pain and howling. My body finally stops, and I am dumped to the floor in a pile before the Stone, green cursor writing away.

  Operational Power at 01:130:07:41:22

  Shielder Container #57824 Present

  Soul Refinery #0008 Present, bond detected to #57824

  Heartwood Present, bond detected to #57824

  ID: Paul Walsh, System: Sol 00548, Sol III

  Current Level:12, Battle Mage

  Harvested Spirita Aqua Detected

  Prepare for Spirita Aqua Removal.........3...2...1

  Genus: Goblinoid

  Snotlings: 82 - total 185

  Goblins: 83 - total 150

  Bane IV achieved, boon granted

  Orc: 41 - total 85

  Bane III achieved, boon granted

  Ogre: 15 - total 25

  Bane II achieved, boon granted

  Ogre Champion: 1 - total 1

  Genus: Insect Type

  Lava Crawler: 100 - total 100

  Bane I achieved, boon granted

  Bane II achieved, boon granted

  Bane III achieved, boon granted

  Bane IV achieved, boon granted

  Genus: Dragonoid Type

  Wyvern: 1 - total 1

  Genus: Daemon

  Daemon via sub-type:

  Harpy Immortal: 1

  Genus: Undead

  Dead: 63 - total 63

  Bane I achieved, boon granted

  Bane II achieved, boon granted

  Bane III achieved, boon granted

  Genus: Humaniod

  Humans via sub-type:

  Crocodile: 1 - total 1

  Bounty Hunter: 1 - total 1

  Shielder Container #28354: 1

  Spirita Aqua Deposited Value: 6075, minus 2000 refined, 4075

  Operational Power Now at 02:172:19:40:06

  Boon granted, 500 deposit

  Boon granted, 1000 deposit

  Boon granted, 1500 deposit

  Boon granted, 2000 deposit

  Boon granted, 2500 deposit

  Boon granted, 3000 deposit

  Boon granted, 3500 deposit

  Adjusting Shielder Container: Spirita Aqua Deposit: 4075xp

  Villager Rescued: 1270xp granted, 1270 Spirita Aqua gained

  Villager Rescued: 2350xp granted, 2350 Spirita Aqua gained

  Special: Night One Killed (3/3 Zone)...... ZONE CLEARED! 1000xp

  ZONE CLEARED! Reclamation Triggered!

  Total Adjustment: 8695 xp added 16345 xp total

  Shielder Container #57824 XP at 16345xp

  Level 13 reached - one power point

  Level 14 reached - one power point

  Level 15 reached - two power points one utility point, Specialization Option

  Level 16 reached - one power point

  Level 17 reached - one power point

  Level 18 reached - one power point one Special point

  15 Boons - boon tables generated for after power selection.

  1 Special Granted

  3620 Spirita Aqua Refined.

  Reclamation Triggered! Reclamation Event Begins!

  Leveling in 3...2...1

  Power hits me like a storm this time, forcing me up. My ribs audibly pop back into plac
e with my howls again, this time in joy. THE POWER fills my soul, my body. Scars disappear, body gets slightly bigger, larger. Pain leaves as does the flow of power, with me standing facing the Stone.

  Level 13 - Ability Increase or Power Choice?

  "Ability, Agility, hehehe"

  Agility increased by one.

  Level 14 - Ability Increase or Power Choice?

  "Ability, Strength."

  Strength Increased by one

  Level 15 - Ability Increase or Power Choice (x2)? Utility Point? Specialization Choice?

  "Specialization?"

  Choose? Fighter(S), Ranger, Paladin, Cavalier, Ronin, Monster Hunter, Defender, Spirita Fighter, Spirita Knight, Captain, Warden, Slaver, Warlord, Gladiator, Martial Artist, Peace Keeper, Battle Mage(S), Soul Reaver, Soul Keeper, Soul Caller.

  Not even worth thinking about. I have the support, so looks like I'm going up close and personal. Not that I've had a choice in the last day or two.

  "Fighter Specialization."

  Fighter Specialization Allocated:

  Strength increased by 1

  Agility increased by 1

  Constitution increased by 1

  Fighting increased by 3

  Skills slotted for input: Military Leadership, Powered Armor, Advanced Weaponry I

  Specialist Skills, choose 2: Wilderness Survival(S), Blacksmith, Tailor, Leatherworker, Butcher, Herbalist, Scholar, Tinker, Arcana Spirita(S), Scout(S), Mounted Combat, Siege Warfare, Troop Maneuvers, Logistics, Aerial Combat, Rifleman, Small Arms, Explosives, Heraldry, Etiquette? Or add to an ability statistic?

  Holy shit. Shit that's holy. Small arms? Rifleman? POWERED FUCKING ARMOR? What the hell is out there? What the fuck am I in for? Okay, calm, deep breaths. What can I use right now? Etiquette and Heraldry. I have too much fun pissing people off to choose being nice, heraldry will be nice when I travel. If I travel. Fuck it, one useful, one for fun.