“Where is the next closest portal?” I asked.
“Porr, about a week to the west. Never been myself. Why?” she asked, confused.
“If the city is under siege we -”
I was interrupted by her snort. “There is no siege on the ground. When the big guilds siege they do so from above, out of reach of their foes. They simply bombard the defenders into submission.”
My brows furled at this thought. “I…” I paused gathering my words. “Couldn’t the defenders just lob a few fireballs up and despawn the attacker’s airships?”
“I won’t pretend to know how sieging a mega city works. I just know what when the Inquisitors tried to get Loona to submit a few years back, I traveled this very road with Da at the reins. I remember being so terrified and Da so calm. We went down this very road without a single issue. The gate guards stopped us and we showed we had goods to trade and were honest with where we were from.”
“Great, that means I’ll have to come clean if we reach guards,” I muttered.
I heard Keera grumbling in confliction until she found the courage to ask, “Come clean with what?”
“You’ll see soon enough,” I said sternly.
The flaring of magical spells soaring through the night sky sharpened as we neared Loona. What I saw as we entered the farm fields around the city gave me pause. Literally I halted the bouncing wagon and snorting horses.
There were a half dozen roads leading into Loona. The city itself was a massive structure dominating the horizon. I was surprised how close the woods were to the huge city. Towering walls jutted high enough to conceal the interior buildings. Mage towers soared three times taller than the walls. Casters perched up high to repel bombardments. The shields defended the residents without even signs of weakening.
Outside of the city, on the roads leading in, the Justicars had staged roadblocks. So much for a smooth ride in. Within eyesight I saw at least six full companies with barricades set to halt traffic each way. Ahead of me a hundred soldier unit waited patiently and based on the fire of wagons burning I came to a rapid conclusion.
I was about to be ambushed or already wheeled us into one that hadn’t triggered yet.
“Cast a blizzard, and then hide in the wagon bed,” I said with a clenched jaw. “And Keera, sorry.”
She hustled into the back and hid under some blankets. When she cast her spell it was clear that it had improved. The falling flakes of snow encompassed an area around us in a big circle. That falling snow was perfect for what I needed. Up ahead a half dozen shapes were revealed by the descending flakes.
“Evenin' soldiers of guild Justismars,” I said, intentionally goofing up the name. My drawl was a bit overacted.
“Justicars,” an ogre and probably the leader of the group corrected me. “Surrender your wagon, submit to our labor contract, or it's your life.”
I really wanted to do the bit about you and what army, instead when all five were easy to see I spawned a spear.
“Arina, air shield up now,” the ogre commanded.
I hurled the spear at the ogre. The setting was dark, the snow fell swiftly, and seeing was becoming more difficult by the second.
The weapon zoomed across the hundreds of feet with a whistle. I never let it get above the sound barrier, and rightfully so. The last thing I wanted was getting swarmed by reinforcements and being forced to backpedal through the forest.
My weapon soared straight and true, far faster than the enemy could see. The air shield popped and the spear dove into the neck of the ogre. The weak view I had told me the head was attached still, but barely.
I leaped from the wagon hurling a spear at a green glow of a healer. My weapon arrived too late as the golden light of a revival crashed down from the skies. There was a glistening glow as the ogre was brought back to life. The reflection showed my spear enter and erupt out of a stunned mage clutching a massive hole in their chest. The body crumpled and there was a curdling scream of terror.
So much for my wish to keep the battle quiet. The beacon alerted the entire area for miles. That scream came from one of the remaining mages. My guess, seeing their buddy get his heart torn out was unexpected.
I was charging hard to close the distance and finish the fight when I heard.
“What happened? Why are Lexa and Arina on the ground? What killed me?” the ogre asked in confusion.
The golden light still shone around his form. Perfect. I slung a spear well beyond the speed of sound. The air boomed from the sheer power of my assault. The weapon sunk into the ogre’s chest with enough force to lift him off his feet. The body went horizontal as it was flung backwards. The ground I tore across shook from his impact.
A fireball illuminated the blizzard, missing me by only a foot. My feet alternated their lunges so I could dodge the fire that tried to track me.
Ice engulfed my feet, tripping me up, and causing me to stumble. I cast an area heal and immediately regretted it. The damn ogre wasn’t dead, and I'd just partially healed him. The fire and ice mages flung spells at me while I recovered. An empowered roll was the only thing that saved me, their stunned reactions were enough for me to capitalize. I hurled a spear at the fire mage.
The body lifted off the grassy field, flying with the weapon’s momentum. The ice mage yanked a sword from a sheath, bellowing a war cry. I threw a spear at his face. The moment it left my hand I pulled out the dagger and underhand tossed it for where he would be. The mage dodged the first weapon but lined himself up to take a dagger to the neck.
Of course, the idiot tugged the weapon free. Playing dead was probably his best bet. As his blood spurted onto the light snow I knew he was a goner. The ogre groaned and moaned, giving me a headache. That wouldn’t do, it was time for him to die, again. A spear tore into his face sending his brains splattering over the area.
That left poor Arina, the lady who used the air shield. She was mana exhausted and passed out. I saw I had a few minutes before the bad guys arrived. They were certainly coming, the other units were on standby while the company assigned to this road had their banner high while they marched. I could barely make them out, telling me I had ten minutes at most.
I found a belt to bind the female fairy up with. With her hands and legs secure I looted the bodies. My pockets filled with orbs and I acquired another three legendary staves. There was an obvious conclusion to draw here. Why farm mobs when Justicars dropped the best loot in the universe? The ogre had a massive club and heavy armor. I bypassed all that for the staves and the air mage. That was more than enough.
“Who is she?” Keera asked when I deposited Arina’s body like a sack of potatoes into the wagon bed.
I shrugged and replied, “Leverage at best, a slave at… no a soul for sacrifice at worst.”
“You’d do that?”
“Not ideally. Did you check your score?” I asked.
She flashed a five hundred, her eyes in disbelief. “How?”
“Killing people forever gets you lots of levels. Keep doing it and then everyone is dead besides you. Silly system if you ask me,” I said getting on the driver’s seat. My hands snapped the reins forward.
“You’re insane, you’re -”
“Shhhhh…” I said, turning to give her a warning stare and a finger over my mouth. “I have work to do. You have a lot of mana now, just keep casting that blizzard. If I pass out you ride hard for the gates of Loona and stop for nothing.”
“Huh?” she said, clearly confused.
“If I pass out you do what?”
“Hide?” Keera said rhetorically. “I’m not a warrior.”
“Look, the options are clear. Become a slave, or get us to the city. You pick. I’ll do my best to save us. Ball sacks those guys were powerful,” I said, turning my wrist to see 4481 for my level.
“Well you throw a spear like you’re the creator himself,” Keera muttered with a pout.
I had a smartass reply lined up but a comp
any plus of Justicars formed up to block my way.
“Halt! Come no further. This city is under siege by the mighty Justicar army. I said HALT!” A voice demanded. The female was stern and intimidating enough that I heard Keera whimper behind me.
I had to admit, my plan for this next part was theatrics, and mostly being fed up with people trying to kill me. There was a silence, everyone stilled. It was not a long jump to conclude everyone was on edge. The only thing moving was the falling snow in a light breeze. Obviously the Justicars were not worried. They had a full company assembled, probably capable of defeating a thousand Inquisitors with proper tactics.
“You will surrender,” I shouted out.
“Ha! You and what army will make us wave the white for a pathetic traveler like you,” the female said and I grumbled. She had a point.
“I’ve been sent to remove the Justicars of their position. You see… I’m from.” My pause was for dramatic effect. “Prox. That’s right. My name is Gryff, the Harbinger!” I bellowed and released Beargor.
There were chuckles at my proclamation, my flare and reveal a joke to them.
The magic around the Justicars blinked in the night. The blink increased in tempo until there was a flash of magic and the wagon shook as five thousand bears spawned within feet of the enemy formation.
The battle that ensued was as brutal as it was ferocious. The outer layers were set upon by hulking white bears, their attacks were sudden and without warning. Mages used to having protection were mauled and dismembered with parts flying high into the air.
The Justicars recovered quickly, cutting swaths of bears down with spells so powerful I could hardly fathom the levels of the wielders. The bears pressed in hard and the view of battle became lost in the blinding light of the magic unleashing. There were cries, horrifying cries of those denying death and wishing for another second of life. Then there were the enraged roars of Beargor himself from the depths of the battle.
I knew the fact that they were not expecting an army to spawn in their midst was my only advantage. One that I should not let go to waste. My side eye caught a reinforcement unit pausing for additional troops, the commander unwilling to dive into a foe so entangled with his own troops.
I spurred the horses forward. With them at a good clip we sped around the fight. I stood on the driver’s bench to get a good angle.
I threw a single spear and regretted standing. The weapon whistled away into the scrum. My attempt to see it land left me exposed.
A punch to my ribs caused me to stagger. My fumbling feet almost caused me to fall off the wagon. My legs gave out and I was forced to sit. An arrow barely missed my heart and my mana was burning incredibly fast.
Two minutes, that was all I could handle having this mighty army summoned; it was only a blue too. I swooned when I returned Beargor and his army. The orb had a week long cooldown from all the damage.
My free hand held onto the arrow while my other hand cast an area heal. The pressure on my chest eased as the arrow was eked out. I sighed, ingesting a deep breath when the wound was healed.
That was close, too close.
Able to breathe again I shifted to look at the Justicars we managed to get around. The enemy company was in tatters, less than a dozen stood trying to find the foes they’d just fought. I snickered knowing I was beyond them and heading for the gates of Loona.
“Where am I?” Arina asked, stirring in the wagon bed behind me.
“Look out the back,” I replied.
“Is that Gamma Company, what happened to them?” the recovering fairy blurted.
“The harbinger,” muttered Keera.
“Ha, as if -”
“I am Gryff the Griffin Rider. Emperor of the Prox Universe. Commander of the dvaren of Thur and Harbinger to the master verse. Your pathetic company just fed me another four hundred levels and your soul will be fed to a necromancy staff. Unless you comply,” I said with barely contained anger between my clenched teeth.
“Guild Master Joran was right… We should fear the Inquisitor incursion, they have outside help,” Arina said in shocked horror. This caused me to break out in delightful laughter. “Why are you cackling?”
“Because you fool. I was sent here to end the monopoly on the universe you both have achieved, not just the Justicars. Smart to play it that way though. I’m sure Joran didn’t become the elitist guild’s ruler without some crafty guile,” I said, not ashamed to admit the man was powerful.
“How did you drain my shield?” Arina asked, shifting the subject.
“I don’t think you were listening earlier,” I said, leaving the driver's seat to loom over her. “Your soul or your servitude. Those are your options. Say yes master or I break your jaw and remove your tongue.”
She winced, nodded and said, “I understand Master.”
“Good, glad we can be friends. I have some guards to bypass. Are you going home or coming to work for me?” I asked Keera. She merely shook her head no. I rolled my wrist trying to coax words out of her but she whimpered instead. “Great. Arina and I will get off the cart. I already gave you a small purse filled with durca, use that to get home. How many levels did you end up getting?”
She retreated into her shell, saved by the guards coming to surround us.
I was questioned against a truth orb. They were shocked that my proclamations were the truth. A captain said the king would like to speak with me in the morning. If my story checked out his personal portal master would open a trip home directly, saving me time and money.
That was a welcome change of pace. I was given proper restraints for my prisoner and led to a massive suite with a balcony. Arina stepped up to my side as I gazed at the airships above.
“There will be a hundred times this when they learn you were here. You’ve doomed the city,” Arina said. Since her comment was useful I held in the backhand I wanted to smack her with.
“You think you’re grand. You Justicars, even the gods feel immortal. This is the master verse. You all die and you’re mistaken for something vital. This city won’t fall,” I said with a smile.
“Unless there is some Inquisitor army leaving the core planets, I highly doubt it,” Arina said.
“Pick a blimp Arina. They’re all real, correct?” I asked.
“Would be easy to knock out of the sky if they were familiars. That is Admiral Uchina’s war blimp and not a merchant's toy. It’s been in over a million -”
“Tomorrow, if it’s still in the sky, I’ll bring it down.”
“There is no way that is possible,” she scoffed. Then she saw my expression. “I eagerly wait for tomorrow then. I’ll be in the guest room if you’ll do me the favor of opening the door.”
When we retreated to opposite beds I was excited for tomorrow. As long as the king wasn’t an idiot I’d get my troops back to this shitty planet. I could break this siege and then take a few days off before hitting stronger dungeons, or doing more raiding.
I smiled as I snuggled into my pillow. There was real progress toward achieving my goals of going back to Vin. I wondered what tomorrow would bring; more blood and battle, or politics and court.
CHAPTER 10
I rose to an early morning sun with a dry mouth. The end table held a water jug and a bowl. I wet my mouth, spit out the chalky water, and got to my feet. All my gear was on the foot of the bed so I added the double set of robes.
A few uncoordinated morning steps led me toward the balcony. The glass doors revealed a sky filled with ships. My stretching yawn was loud and delightful. While I watched the sky above I saw new portals opening and reinforcements arriving into the cramped skies. Well, that was not ideal. There was a bang from the side door.
“I need to pee!” Arina demanded.
A second set of banging came from the main doors. I tensed when the lock was undone and the doors swept open.
“Ah good morning Gryff,” a dwarf said, striding into the room. He wore white mage robe
s with purple trim, his smile was genuine, and his beard was long. There was more banging from Arina. The dwarf pointed at the door with raised brow. In a very astute tone he said, “I take it that is the prisoner.”
“Yup,” I said, confused as to what was going on.
“Events move faster than we anticipated and you need to leave. The king has denied harboring a fugitive of the Justicars. He has opened his gates as of about five minutes ago for their inspector. You were here and promptly removed before he knew you were wanted by the enemy. That’s the official position. You traded your prisoner for a trip home.
“The reality is the Justicars pulled their forces off the planet surface and back into the air after your display. They’re worried about you and that pleases his highness. So…” He paused to ensure I was tracking what he was saying. I nodded and he continued. “I’m taking you home. Right now. We get her to trade from some of our captured, that is your -”
“Done,” I said immediately. I wasn’t sure what Arina would do for me anyway. “Planet Thur, Remi please, unless you can glean where I want to go by magic?”
“It has been said to be possible, but I lack the skill. I went to Remi on Thur. Grab your things,” the mage said and I grabbed all the loot I’d stubbornly refused to let go of.
There was a wave of magic until a black portal spawned on the balcony.
“This takes me to Remi, on Thur?” I asked.
“Smart to ask, indeed it does,” the mage said and he never flared red.
Arina screamed for my attention. “You’re going to be killed, revived, and killed that way a thousand times you worm!”
There was a commotion of armor from down the hall. I was ushered forward.
“Was nice knowing you too,” I muttered and jumped into the portal.
∞∞∞
I arrived surrounded by guards pointing weapons at me. There was actually no screaming or panic. Just some very, very pissed off people threatening to kill me. I was confused until I realized where I was.
Shit, the portal had spawned in King Ptera’s ballroom that was currently serving court. The king sat on his throne beside his wife, eyeing me with furled brows of confusion. The guards relaxed when I laid down my weapons and put my hands up.
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