The Vengeful Tide Ch. 42

The next few days passed slowly for Alteria, my mother, and I. Despite hours of watching the enemies of the empire trot around the town of Mapik like rouge chickens on a dirt road, they’d kept to their word about recovering their strength. The only solace we were given was that I could tell the mages were growing in strength. Traitorous soldiers got the mages on friendly terms with the rest of the loyal empire soldiers, either shaking hands or exchanging tankards.

I had no doubt it made Alteria angry because each interaction made the loyal soldiers weaker. I sensed the forceful pull of their mana into the bodies of the mages. The lot had grown lethargic, barely capable of standing on their legs. A few of them sat at their posts, taking brief naps here and there. Some stumbled up and down the streets, garnering concerns from the people as their mana was continuously sucked away through pleasant exchanges with the enemy.

Much to my irritation, Alteria pleaded that I help some of them. So I supplied a few with the mana that had been taken over the days that we waited so that Mapik wouldn’t be completely useless if any outside enemy forces should come against it. I supposed it was a surprise that the lot would be so tired with their mana being sucked away like that. While mana-draining spells would leave anyone feeling slow, I saw the runes crafting the spell used by the mages. It made the soldiers doubly exhausted and there was no way they wouldn’t have noticed if the mages were by themselves. However, they were always with one of the traitorous members, often commenting on how tired the victim was and how much rest they needed. It usually got a shrug or a wave of the hand, letting the mage suck away until they were satisfied.

With my considerable reserves, I alleviated this bleeding somewhat but I knew that this would only make the group more suspicious. Alteria knew that as well so she allowed things to take their course, even if she greatly despised it.

Luckily for her, the mages had stopped their feasting on the populace as I felt the gathering of great mana back at the inn.

“So how is this gonna work?” my mother asked, leaning to the side of the open window with a frown on her face while I sat in the middle of the room. Alteria stood by the door, observing me carefully.

“Once they’ve made contact, we’ll learn where the majority of their forces are hiding. The elves and our third agent will follow them back and we’ll send the word out to Crown Prince, Tainn, and Grand Elder, Lorentia. Once we’ve taken out every mage, then our forces can put their full might into stopping this war. I… am also prepared for what we must do,” she said.

I spoke not a word, instead choosing to perform the same actions as last time. Conjuring up my spirit, and detaching it from my body, I flew out over the town of Mapik. If I were to be surprised at anything, it’d be that they chose to do this in the morning. For such a scheming, sinister lot, I figured they’d enjoy pulling off their shit when the moon rested in the night sky. There was a rather distinct charm to weaving yourself through the shadows to get to your treasure. Over the course of my voyages at sea, I’d done it numerous times. Most times I got caught, but the others were a grand thrill unlike any other.

Either way, I entered the inn for what felt like the twentieth time in the last few days. At this point, I bet I could cook better shit on the wooden plates than the damn cook they hired. I flew through the walls, ignoring the usual wards the group set up until I found them all huddled around each other at the lowest part of the inn. The mages were seated around a circle with the other soldiers guarding the doors.

Like a squall at the edge of the sea, I saw the magical runes floating around in the air. While I could mess with the runes if I wished, there was no point currently. Instead, I took a seat behind one of the mages and placed my hand on his back. I watched him shiver for a moment or two, prompting one of his mates to question him.

“You’re losing focus. What’s the problem?”

“Nothing. Something felt cold is all.”

Smirking, I closed my eyes and aligned my mana with his. As expected, I felt the pull of my consciousness. It was like having my fucking brain pulled out of my skull through a small hole. Nevertheless, my consciousness went with them, likely crossing the vastness of the Hæňgaram Empire. I wasn’t sure how far I had traveled. There was only darkness all around me, deadening all of my senses. Hell, despite my spirit not needing air, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I was sinking further and further into a dark abyss, the pressure almost threatening to tear me apart.

Thankfully, my persistence paid off. The mana within me settled and I was granted my sight back. I opened my eyes and whistled. “Fuck, quite the army you’ve rounded up for yourself,” I thought as I saw at least two hundred mages and five hundred enemy soldiers gathered around çeşme escort a large underground sanctuary, all of them arguing and hurling insults at each other. They stood around a large magic matrix embedded on the ground. The hall they were in was fucking grand, I’d figured it to be a type of underground temple of sorts.

Pillars of burned ivory reached high to the top of the ceiling in a circle, twelve in total. In the distance, I recognized statues dedicated to various gods and goddesses of Hæňgaram to the left and right of the entrance to the building. However, one stood at the center of them all.

While the rest of the masses raged below me, their incorporeal forms moving about the ground like rats, I flew to the statue of Lumnina. When I looked upon her, I started to get a feeling that I might know where the hell these people were located. For being a damn statue, I wasn’t sure why this particular one seemed to cause me to worry. It was like it was alive and not alive at the same time. I saw the numerous magic runes swirling around it, almost as if keeping it sealed shut, but it was a magic I’d not been familiar with. Just floating next to it made my body tremble. I’d not known such a thing since Delverhold.

By the time I realized it, all the shouting had stopped. I turned my attention to the very top of the temple. Imagine my fucking surprise when I saw Zevmar walk out of the temple, glaring down at the forces for their unruly behavior.

To say I was stumped was a damn understatement. I’d been in the know on the bastard’s movements across the battlefield, pushing back the enemy as the Hero of the Empire. Hell, even now he was supposed to be warring against the nation of Sairan with the Royal Chickenshit, Tainn. They should be fighting the fierce battle even as I flew around this group of warriors and mages. Yet, here the fucker stood, proud as ever. I knew it was him because I sensed the numerous blessings poured into his body. In fact, I dared not get too close lest he sensed my trail of mana. No clone or mana construction could hold so many blessings at once, no matter how minor unless it’d been given mana the quality of Liara. Not even I could do it.

I fired through as many theories as I could, ranging from the one on the battlefield being a mana construct to it being another in disguise. It pissed me off that all of my theories, though some more unreasonable than others, held water in one capacity or another. What I wouldn’t give to contact someone for more information. Unfortunately, that would require too much mana, mana that was already draining at an alarming rate just to keep my consciousness tethered to this group. In the end, I merely continued to observe.

It seemed that one individual wasn’t perturbed by his presence. He pushed himself through the crowd of men and women, his form considerable in strength and stature. How lucky for me, he was one of the men I’d come along with. “What is this meaning of this, Lightfeather? Was this all a plot to have us dwindle down our forces until there was no one left to contend with the Empire? You said that this would be easy. You said that the nation would fall before the Month of Harvest was over. Yet the only thing that seems to be falling is the bodies of our forces at every turn! They know where we are all the time. Another battalion has been wiped out an hour ago. We’re bleeding…”

I watched the warrior swiftly fall to silence when Zevmar held up a hand. With but one hand, the chaos of the room stilled. “It has been made known to me,” he said, his visage clearly displeased by the news presented to him. I watched the mana within him stir violently.

“It seems that I have underestimated my home and its determination to keep its flag standing amongst the people. It would appear that the young pirate, the Destroyer of C’ula, Eric Drakclaw, battles in the name of the Hæňgaram Empire,” Zevmar announced, sending a ripple of shock through the masses gathered around him.

As for me, I wasn’t surprised. I already knew this was gonna happen. You don’t survive as a pirate without a bit of forethought. Besides, it mattered not to me if he knew I was the one standing against him or not. His irritation was enough to tell me just what he thought of my presence.

No one said a word. I knew they all had trouble making sense of what they were hearing. Of course, it’d seem unlikely since Hæňgaram held such a strong stance against my kind. Even if their backs were against the wall, with their families and empire about to be burned to the ground, the lot would never seek the aid of a pirate. Well, at least the majority of them would. Hell, the lot who were working with me now continued to soak in their stewed mess of accepting their defiled flag so long as it remained blowing the empire’s strong winds.

“Not that we doubt you, Lord Zevmar, but if your words ring true, then this plan has failed. With the number başakşehir escort of mages we have left, it will be impossible to summon the beast even with the materials in place. With the failed conquest of Nuluk, we’ve yet to establish a firm foothold in the empire. Some have even… speculated an early withdrawal,” another said while Zevmar’s frown deepened.

He closed his eyes, perhaps taking a moment to gather his thoughts. “Worry not. Eric Drakclaw shall not be a concern. I already have an idea who he’s allied with. Additionally, his interference will work in our favor. The seeds of dissension will flow through the waters of Hæňgaram’s seas. We shall emerge victorious. It has already been prophesied,” he said, opening his eyes once he was done.

“Well, ain’t you just the deepest barrel of whale shit on the stripping docks,” I thought to myself.

Finally, Zevmar turned away from the crowd. “However, you are correct. Our method of unleashing the beast has been lost to us for now. Gather your remaining forces and converge upon this location. While the greatest advantage has been lost to us, we will proceed without it. In the meantime, I shall take the extra measures to combat this thorn,” he stated, pretty sure of himself despite the puddle of shit I’d no doubt forced him to walk through. He raised his hand, an orb-like artifact meant for storing knowledge appearing in it.

I gazed upon it and immediately my mind was filled with the location that all these bastards would converge on. I just never thought it’d be the fucking catacombs of the Lightfeather estate. I’d never gotten the honor of seeing inside the Lightfeather estate nor the illustrious tombs of their dead, but I should have guessed they’d be the fucking sort to build up a temple to the Lumnina, one of the grandest light goddesses, in D’orn.

Once the light faded, another, a female captain from a separate kingdom, spoke. “And you’re confident that this pirate won’t be a concern? There are many aboard his ship that wield extraordinary power as well. It’s been claimed that even one of the Black Traders lies aboard his ship. The resources garnered him if such a thing is true could be of further concern,” the woman said, clearly not convinced.

I couldn’t resist the grin on my face, knowing the lass spoke of my Quartermaster. As a woman bathed in the realm of illegal trade, Ellen had a great many contacts throughout almost every kingdom. I’d made proper use of them since taking over the Dead Tales, though this was more with selling the rest of Ymrindle’s corpse. Unsurprisingly, there were few concerns from competitors. Ellen’s natural reputation took care of that load. Ain’t many lucky to have crossed her and lived. Were they that lucky, they sure as hell didn’t boast about it. One wrong word and Ellen would know about it.

I turned my attention back to Zevmar just in time to hear him speak. “They shall not be a concern either. While I was in a meeting with the Emperor, I’d heard about talented, yet unruly individuals. Some of them plunder and strip the battlefields bare, not the stance of Hæňgaram soldiers. They are even more unruly than the average mercenaries whom the empire has employed into its service,” he said.

“The pirate has his crew running around then,” another finished, pulling everyone’s thoughts together out.

“Indeed, but it shall not last. His interference shall come to an end,” Zevmar said, making sure all heard his voice.

I would have stayed for longer but I noticed the severe dip in my mana. For such a drop as this, I had to have traveled from one part of the Empire to the other. If I didn’t release this spell, my consciousness would be adrift in a sea of the void for all eternity. Aye, while it was a shame to part now, I’d gotten what I needed along with a few questions for the Balamar Knight.

Cast one last look at Zevmar before I released my hold on the spell. Just as when I’d gone, the void surrounded my senses even faster when I’d left. I drifted until the darkness around me turned warm. When I opened my eyes, I saw the rest of the mages still huddled around the room. Taking my hand off the back of the one I was attached to, I left the inn and retreated back to my own body.

When I opened my eyes, my eyes blurred. I startled my mother and Alteria when I fell over. The experience had left my mind and body severely rattled. It’d be rather embarrassing, but I’d have to wait for my sea legs to return. At the moment, I wasn’t confident that I could stand up without falling on my ass again.

“Eric, what the fuck happened to you?” my mother asked, kneeling at my side and pulling me back upright.

While her concern was unnecessary, I never thought my damned heart would appreciate it so. Seas knew I would have done anything for it back when I was a young boy. Well, younger than I was now.

“A lot of shit, Mother. Quite a lot. How much time has passed?” küçükçekmece escort I questioned, turning my attention to Alteria. She gave a swift glance at the clock on the wall and faced me.

“Ten minutes, twenty perhaps. Have you discovered anything?” she asked.

I almost felt insulted that the lass would even ask that. “Aye, I found out quite a bit,” I said, reaching into my pouch and pulling out a vial of blue liquid. I drank the mixture, my face scrunching up from its sourness. Nevertheless, I felt my mana levels rise quickly. Nei and Lei eyed me from where they sat on my legs.

I soon tossed the vial away and grunted. “Best tell me now, Alteria. Does that hero of yours have some twin brother I ain’t know about?” I inquired, my throat rather dry from the drink I’d just consumed.

By Lady Knight’s expression, I could already tell the answer to my question was a resounding no. “You saw Zevmar?” she asked, clearly perplexed when I nodded my head.

“Aye, that I did. In all his heroic glory, he stood on the steps of some underground temple, its floors graced by the statutes of your empire’s gods. Suffice it to say, he’s aware of me and my crew. He also didn’t say it outright, but you best be on your guard as well,” I replied, glancing at Lady Knight. She firmly nodded before she grew worried.

“He’s supposed to be on the battlefield with Crown Prince Tainn. If he’s in this temple, then who is the one facing the enemy?” the ostracized female knight questioned, echoing my thoughts from earlier.

“No idea, but you’ve got good fortune going for you. When that lot of mages are done with whatever they need, I’ll message Aesteal and Maeloson the location of his little hideout,” I answered, turning to my mother at the same time. “Mother, send word to Ellen to recall my crew to the ship. Our time on the front has passed for now,”

Wordlessly, my mother agreed. She quickly stood up and began weaving the magics I’d taught her back on Delverhold and during our travels. I watched the ancient runes swirl around her as she no doubt communed with Ellen.

“And where is he located?” Alteria asked.

“The Lightfeather estate, or below it at the very least,” I said. I watched Alteria swiftly pull out a map of the Empire’s lands.

“Which one?” she asked.

Should I have been surprised that the fucker’s family had more than one estate?

Probably not considering all the knowledge Liara had pushed into my head about nearly every kingdom and empire that had come before. However, there was just something about hearing it for yourself that added to the damned grandiose air of it all.

“How many has the bastard got?” I asked, still wrapping my head around this shit. Not even the Balamar family had more than two.

“The Lightfeather family has a total of seven estates spread throughout Hæňgaram, four of them were awarded to Zevmar for his service to the empire,” Lady Knight answered.

…Fucking nobles, I swear.

Then again, that was quite a lot of wealth that a deadman might no longer need. While I couldn’t hit every estate, one or two didn’t seem unreasonable. I was sure Ellen and my mother wouldn’t mind robbing the Lightfeather estates of their money vaults.

I looked at the map and pointed to the far northeast of the map of the empire. “Somewhere in here,” I said.

Alteria frowned. “The Mountains of Kiv. Those are fairly treacherous with numerous steep curves and sharp caverns. One fall can spell one’s demise. No one knew what the Lightfeathers did in that area. Many believed it to be a special place to train the heirs and heiresses of the family head. If he’s sending enemy forces there, then there must be a way for them to traverse its deadly range,” she assumed.

Once I no longer felt so unsteady, I managed to get off the floor and reach the bed. “I be sure that such a place will have no difficulty for Maeloson and Aesteal. In fact, I bet the two of them would feel right at home there,” I said. Knowing Fgg’rial and its northernmost lands, there were plenty of ice-tipped mountains and densely populated forests that her people called home. Additionally, I’d not forgotten An’raie’s piqued interest into Alteria’s odd heritage. If her former Order knew of it, then I sure as hell had no idea where they sent her to train her so vigorously. Neither did I know why they’d wish to let go of such a fine warrior.

“We shall see when the time comes. Was there anything else you were able to gather?” she questioned.

“Aye. Best inform your superiors to prepare warding spells against fire and fire spells. Your hero seemed so assured that I’d no longer be a concern to him and the rest of his forces. If that be the case, there’s likely only one person he’s gonna send,” I replied.

I spotted concern on Alteria’s face but my mother asked before she could. “That fire bitch from before? You kicked her ass last time. How’ll this time be any different?” she asked.

“Probably cause I’ll be fending off the rest of the damn Hæňgaram forces on the front lines. If the lass is left alone she’ll decimate the rest of the Empire before they’ll even have a chance to counter. I bet Zevmar only planned to use her as a last resort. She was assigned a shitty detail as a guard to one of the nobles,” I uttered, which made me receive concerning looks.