Chapter 18

  Cold Threat

  Looming above the whole Myrrh, the Great Sky Mountain was a sight that could not be ignored. At the base of the mountain, surrounded by tall trees and walls, the Mystic Grove looked up to the mountain and the seat of rule in perpetuity. The road between the capitol city and the Mystic Citadel was not isolated. For convenience in summoning the rulers of Myrrh’s provinces and distant ambassadors, two other roads crossed the short path between the capitol and its palace.

  The gates of the Mystic Citadel swung open, and from them ten riders rode. They wore messenger hats and had bags with the latest official documents. The first veered off towards the Capital, the Mystic Grove, to deliver the updates. The others rode off towards all corners of Myrrh.

  The rider stopped at the Myrrh Academy of War, located just inside the walls of the city, and tossed a scroll case at the receptionist waiting on the steps. “The latest bounty, post it.” The messenger said.

  “Bounty? Is that all? No news of the Prince, no new decree?” The receptionist asked.

  “Hold your tongue.” The Messenger said. “It’s a Crown Bounty.” The Messenger rode off, leaving the Receptionist with eyes wide. He went up the stone steps to the Myrrh Academy of War, known by some as MAW for short. The greatest warriors and strategists in all of Sera studied here, and the strongest soldiers of Myrrh, Myrrhmidons, were required to complete its combat courses. The Receptionist entered the front war hall and went over to the news board. Many students, teachers, and alumni were hanging around, sitting at tables or benches. How did they have so much free time?

  The Receptionist opened the scroll case and pulled out one copy of the new Bounty, slapping it on the news board. The board gripped it with an enchantment and pulled it to an open space, the light at the top glowing to show there was new information. It took only moments for some of the younger students to gather nearby.

  Older students and teachers from around the hall looked at the board from afar, using the art of magical identification, Mysticism, to tap into the board’s enchantment. From their seats, they could read the posted news without needing to crowd around.

  The new document was a bounty. Some took one glance and went back to what they were doing, but many stared at the poster. A 100 Million Gil reward for a dangerous villain, the Empty Eyed destroyer of a town called Liniva. Last seen fleeing the city of Nita after causing havoc and killing the captain of the guard. The poster had a hand drawn picture of a person with light hair that was a bit long and spiky, and vivid empty eyes. It seems no one was able to capture a direct picture with a Photo Crystal. In the corner of the bounty was the seal of the Crown, meaning this was backed by the royal family themselves! Full reward on live capture only.

  A raucous conversation exploded in the hall. Several people hopped up to spread news of this incredible new development. Just a day after the strange bounty had been passed around, it had a reward spike and a seal of the crown, this was amazing news.

  One man ran a hand over his head, stirring the strands of blue crystal that adorned his head. He grinned as gil danced in his eyes, reading and rereading the new bounty. “A Crown Bounty.” He said. “That’s good enough for my Feat of Strength.”

  “You think so?” A woman sitting at his table asked. She was short, but not a child. She fixed her gaze on the bounty for a moment.

  “Yes.” The Kuldo man with blue hair said. “Crown Bounties are rare. Almost never get a seal on a bounty, so they are important. Important enough to be considered a threat to the realm. A suitable Feat of Strength to prove my worth as a Myrrhmidon.”

  “Oh come on Rex, I know you’re just after the money.” The Sennish woman chided. “Besides, Nita is days away. You think you’ll get to them before someone else does?”

  “Can it, Fara.” Rex said, standing. For a Kuldo he was rather tall, almost as tall as an Evari, but at least twice as broad. “They’ll call me Rex Peacebringer. I’ll take on this bounty, for real!”

  “Oh ho.” Fara said, shutting the book she was reading. Her crimson hair fell behind her in a cascade, the full three feet of her height. Her tail swung off to one side as she stood up as well. “You’ll be needing me, I suppose.”

  “Can’t go wrong with having a Healer around.” Rex said. “I also need an Archer or a Ranger. Find me someone?”

  “Why can’t you do it?” Fara huffed.

  “I gotta get our rides. Besides, my new armor is ready today. I need to pick that up.” Rex said.

  “It was ready two days ago, you just never bothered to go get it.” Fara said, “And I thought you forged it.”

  “Oh come off it,” Rex said. “It’s custom made, using an alloy I forged. I just hired someone else to finish it. Black as night. Rex Ebony, they’ll call me.” He said.

  “Don’t bother me with your notions of nicknames. Go get the rides and your stupid armor. We leave in an hour.” Fara said. “I’ll have to take care of the supplies too, I suppose.”

  “You got it.” Rex said, striding out the MAW, “One empty eyed destroyer, served on ice. This time next week. Geheheh.”

  Michael set out a log across a gap as a makeshift bridge, then walked across. He turned back to the others, “This way.” He said. Sebastian and Hyato crossed the bridge, but Yan looked unimpressed. “Yan?” Michael asked. Yan looked at him, then off to one side. She hopped over the gap as if it weren’t there, landing a little ways away from the others.

  Sebastian watched the silent exchange and rubbed at his chin. Then he sighed and walked ahead. He peered over a ridge, and spotted the group with the Revenant walking along the base of a cliff in the distance. A dozen men garbed in light leathers and white cloth making their way through the mountains. Mountain Bandits. “We should pick up the pace.” He said.

  “Should we scout ahead?” Michael asked.

  “Only if we are careful not to give away our presence.” Sebastian said.

  “So, that would mean you, right Yan?” Michael said, smiling at her.

  Yan wore no emotion as she looked back at Michael. “You do it.”

  “What?” Michael said. Yan shrugged. Michael looked at the others, who didn’t have anything to add, then he nodded. “Okay. I’ll do it.” He started jogging ahead, focusing on making his footsteps silent.

  As soon as Michael left earshot, Sebastian turned to Yan. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing in particular.” Yan said. “Let’s not fall behind.” She strode past the others.

  Hyato walked up beside Sebastian. “Did something happen?”

  “If it did, no one informed me.” Sebastian said. “I’m just going to observe for now.”

  It was not long before Michael returned to the group, “They are around the bend, walking along the road.”

  “Why didn’t you stay at the corner and watch?” Yan said.

  “It’s a long road, we’ll have to stop at the corner anyways.” Michael said. “I figured I should tell you.”

  “They could slip into a cave, and we wouldn’t know where!” Yan said. “You should have stayed over there.”

  “Sorry, I’ll head back.” Michael said.

  “Don’t bother.” Yan said, moving past him, stepping around him without getting close, a purpose to her step.

  Michael deflated, his gaze locked to the ground as he continued walking. Hyato patted him on the shoulder, and Sebastian gave him a smile. “Everything alright between you two?”

  “Guess not.” Michael said, halfway between scowling and frowning.

  “Whatever it is, time heals all wounds.” Hyato said. Michael snorted, smirking.

  The party peered around the corner at the roving band of bandits. They watched with a critical gaze, though Yan inched away from Michael, and appraised their quarry. Amongst the bandits was the man Hyato had seen possessed by the Revenant. The roads here were too open to follow close in the middle of the day.

  “We’re going to be stalking them like this all day, aren’t we?” Sebastian said.

  “Might as well get comfortable.” Michael said, sitting down. He felt Yan’s glare, but she was looking away when he checked. He sighed.

  “Something is going on between you two.” Sebastian said. “What is it?”

  “Nothing’s going on.” Yan said.

  “No, I’m serious. There’s no need to act like this.” Sebastian said.

  Michael rested his back against the stone wall, one leg tucked into his chest. “Everything’s fine Sebastian.” Michael said.

  “You can’t expect to fool me with such obvious and weak lies.” Sebastian said. “It happened before you came to camp soaked, right? Were you really Hydromancy training?”

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “I was soaked because I held back a bunch of water until it burst.” Michael said.

  “And?”

  Michael shrugged, though Sebastian caught him glancing at Yan. She remained silent, watching the bandits and ignoring Michael. Yan was vigilant in her sentry of the bandits, deaf to Sebastian’s continued questions. She heard Michael’s sighs, saw his glances, and sensed his restless shifting.

  Yan forced the smile off her face, kept the blush from her cheeks. Michael was so cute! She couldn’t help torment him a bit longer. Later, she’d apologize and set things straight with him, but for now a little punishment for groping her. Even though it was an accident.

  As the party continued to watch in a silent vigil, Michael seemed to grow more and more uneasy. Maybe she shouldn’t do this, it was too mean. Besides, Yan didn’t really mind... well, it was Michael after all. That ‘encounter’ in the pond wasn’t so bad anyways. Perhaps it was time to end this game, she turned to Michael.

  “They’re getting around the next corner.” Hyato said. “Let’s go!” He moved out fast, and Michael followed. Yan closed her mouth and joined the others, jogging along the mountain road after the bandits.

  Hyato led the others along the mountain road, which felt more like a canyon road for the steep rocky hillsides that rose on either side. Around the corner was another short path leading to another corner, so Hyato slipped ahead to peer around. Yan stepped near Michael, reaching out to tap his shoulder.

  “Yan!” Hyato said, still watching around the corner. “Quick!” Yan stopped, then sped over to peer around the corner herself.

  The road opened up to a wide path dotted with boulders. The path continued ahead and to the left, but on the right about halfway along was a large cavernous tunnel leading into the mountainside. Though dark from the shadow of the tunnel, Yan saw the faint outline of the bandits as they entered the cave. Sebastian and Michael came from around the corner to see what had happened.

  “They went into a cave.” Yan said. “This isn’t good.”

  Pierre combed some dust out of his hair, fretting while the pack checked for a signal. The central console of the machine whirred and buzzed, processing data. Pierre checked the readout, Sixty Three % Complete. He nodded. Only another hour or so then. The signal was weaker in the mountains, the Channels here must not be as dense as the heartlands.

  “We need to get going.” Kris said. “Mien is ready to move out.” She glanced at Pierre’s setup for a moment, then went back down the slope to camp.

  Pierre grabbed his pack, made sure the antenna was fully intact, and slung it over his back. Then he returned to the others. “Always so serious, Kris.” Pierre said as he arrived in camp. Mien wasn’t here yet.

  Kris didn’t change expression. “This is a serious mission.” She said. Pierre smiled and readied his gear.

  Mien dropped into camp from a tree. “Let’s go. I found the tracks.”

  “You’ve been finding them faster lately.” Pierre said. “Are you getting that much better?”

  “No.” Mien said, grabbing his gear in moments. “They aren’t hiding themselves anymore.”

  “Why? I thought you said they had a strategist.” Kris said.

  “They do.” Mien said, moving out without glancing at the others. Kris and Pierre moved to keep up. “He must have deduced that I was tracking them.”

  “But then, wouldn’t they take better care to hide their tracks?” Pierre asked. “I mean, if they know we are following them.”

  “Or maybe they know there’s no point, so they gave up.” Kris suggested.

  Mien continued striding at a swift pace, but the others had gotten used to it. They kept up with him as he was silent for a moment. “Kris is closer.” He said at last. Kris grinned, a rare expression on her. “They know they cannot fool my eyes, so they are trading out stealth for speed. They are going faster now.” Mien said.

  “Running?” Pierre asked.

  “Possible. But then, It seems they are hunting something. So perhaps it is running, and their speed is to chase it.” Mien said. “No point in wondering about it. Let’s pick up the pace.” Mien began to run along the mountain path, following the trail of those he met in Nita through the Drakmor Mountains. Pierre and Kris followed, not eager to get left behind again.

  Outside the cave was silent and still. Sebastian sat behind a boulder, peering through a small hole Michael had made for him, watching the entrance of the cave. Should they go in? Was this their lair? Or was it just a shortcut? He rubbed his chin, glancing at the cliffs around to make sure they were abandoned.

  The stoic swordsman, Hyato, leaned against the boulder, hidden from the cave entrance with Michael and Yan. Michael sat with his eyes closed, opening them every few minutes to glance at Yan. She sat a little ways away from the boulder, eyes fixed on one of the cliffs looking away from the others. Michael closed his eyes again.

  Every couple minutes Yan would glance at Michael, as if to say something, see him resting with closed eyes, and return to her lookout. Hyato watched them both do this a few times, as he chewed on a trail bar made from nuts and honey that he bought back in Nita. Hyato fished out one of the trail bars, holding it towards Michael. “Here, eat one.”

  “Not hungry.” Michael said, refusing the bar.

  Hyato offered the bar to Yan, who paused for a moment, then accepted the snack. After maintaining a full hour of vigilance, Yan was hungry.

  “I think we should go after them.” Sebastian said after a long silence. Yan and Hyato had finished their snacks. Sebastian turned to the others. “It’s been an hour. They are either watching us or long gone. Did you see any movement in the cliffs Yan?”

  “No.” Yan said. “I didn’t see anything.”

  “Good,” Hyato said, stretching. “I was getting tired of just sitting there.” Michael stood up too, and soon all four were ready.

  “Alright, let’s head in.” Sebastian said, walking towards the cave with the others. They crossed the open path to the cave.

  “We shouldn’t have waited anyways.” Michael complained. “We probably lost their trail.”

  “Too late to change that now.” Yan said.

  “Indeed. So we should be fast.” Sebastian strode forth at the head of the party. The party took several strides towards the cave, then Hyato leapt, tackling Sebastian to the ground. Something whizzed past where Sebastian had just been.

  “They’re here!” Hyato said, rolling to his feet and drawing his sword. An arrow was lodged into the cliff face.

  Atop a small ridge a bandit slipped out from behind some stones, his bow already fired. He wore leather armor over simple white clothes. More bandits appeared from hiding places above and around the party, men and women all wearing leathers and white clothes, of many different races. Some carried swords, others bows, and a few carried spears.

  “Here to rob us?” Michael snarled, taking a low stance.

  “ATTACK!” One of the bandits roared. Dozens yelled and charged from all directions! A few arrows were loosed, striking the dusty ground with surge impacts to kick up obscuring clouds.

  “Close in!” Sebastian said. “Use wind.” Yan and Michael moved towards Sebastian as Hyato took up position. At once, all four of them created a gust centered on their group. The wind whirled around a few times as it spread out in a sphere, knocking away the dust and some of the faster bandits. Three spear wielding bandits kept their footing and charged the party.

  Hyato and Michael both crouched, Hyato sheathing his sword, and then vanished. They appeared behind the spear users, swords drawn. The spear users fell as the Flash Blades hit.

  Yan picked up a handful of stones and began to throw them with surge impacts at anyone she saw, knocking a few bandits off balance. Her stones struck legs and arms, knocking a few bandits down.

  Arrows pelted the ground, creating a growing cloud of dust that encircled the party. Dust crept in along with bandits in goggles. Michael swung into the cloud of dust with surge slashes, but could not tell if he hit anything.

  “Group up, Michael!” Sebastian ordered, drawing Michael back from the wall. Sebastian checked his surroundings. “They are keeping us from fleeing, and keeping us from the cave.” He said.

  “Let’s just rush through the dust!” Michael said.

  “Do you wanna get skewered?” Yan protested, “These aren’t mindless Zori. They’ll be waiting for you.”

  “We can’t stay here.” Hyato said. “They know where we are.”

  “They either cannot see through the dust, or do not want to kill us.” Sebastian said. “Or their archers would have fired at us already.”

  Michael fired off another surge slash. “We can’t wait here for them to carry out their plan.” Stray surges burst into the clear space where the party gathered, most sailing past without landing. One struck Hyato in the arm.

  “We don’t know what their plan is.” Yan said.

  Hyato rubbed his forearm, “I agree with Michael, we cannot just stay here.”

  Sebastian closed his eyes for a moment. “Then our only option is to attack. Focus on the enemies nearest, but keep the archers in your sight. We make for the path furthest from the enemy.”

  The party all nodded, and Hyato led the charge into the dust, followed by Yan. Michael and Sebastian rushed through the dust to join the others. Hyato struck at some of the bandits, but they dodged away, moving in an odd pattern. Enemies would come near to attack, then dodge away before landing a blow or being hit. The bandits kept moving to encircle.

  “I don’t recognize this tactic.” Sebastian said. “Michael, scatter them with Dark Blade.”

  Shadowy lines erupted from the ground as Michael shouted his signature move. Bandits, as well as rocks and debris, were sent flying. Yan took advantage of the confusion to strike at two bandits that were encircling Hyato, causing them to crumple to the ground. Hyato broke free of the encirclement, dodging off to one side.

  Bright flames erupted from the ground in violent bursts. The growing fires obscured Sebastian’s vision of the battle. He heard the faint sound of glass breaking as another burst of flame cut off his sight of Michael. Why were they so aggressive without attacking directly? Sebastian created a swift gust to force dust into the flames, making them die out.

  “I’ve got it.” Sebastian said, “Hyato, Yan, Michael. This is all a distraction. Make for the cave!” Sebastian turned and ran towards the cave, arriving just after Hyato did. Yan arrived a moment later.

  “Where’s Michael?” Yan asked.

  “He may not be able to see the cave from where he is, aid me with a gust to lift the remaining dust.” Sebastian said. He created a sphere of wind, and the others bolstered it a little. He launched the sphere into the dust, where it dove onto the ground and then caused a massive updraft. The dust cleared away in moments.

  Before their eyes, the three of them saw something they did not expect.

  Nothing.

  The road was clear. No bandits, no scattered stones, no stray arrows.

  No Michael.

  “What?” Sebastian said. “Then, what? Was that an illusion? I sensed no magic.”

  “Where is Michael?” Yan said.

  “This can’t be good.” Hyato strode out into the road, looking along the path. “I don’t see any tracks either.”

  “Where is Michael?” Yan said again, shaking. Hyato glanced back, his face touched with sorrow. Sebastian set a hand on Yan’s shoulder, but her shaking didn’t stop. She tried to speak, but no sound came out.

  Sebastian chose his words with great care, “Yan. Now is not the time. We are going to get him back.”

  Yan shuddered. “I shouldn’t have been so mean to him.” She said. “It’s my fault. I know it was an accident. I was just playing with him.”

  “Yan.” Sebastian said.

  “I should have made up with him, told him it was okay. I was supposed to protect him.”

  “Yan!”

  “We could have worked together, or made decisions better, or...”

  Hyato slapped Yan across the cheek. He face went from shock to fury in moments, and she drew her knives, “Hyato how dar-”

  “Shut up.” Hyato said. “You’re stronger than this.”

  “I- What?!”

  “The Yan I know is strong. You can’t break down over a small issue like this. Michael is strong too, he is fine.” Hyato said. Yan deflated some. Tears dropped from her eyes, sorrow or anger, she did not know. “Pull yourself together. Michael will be fine for now, but we need to find him. If their plan was to capture him, we need to rescue him.”

  Yan closed her eyes for a long moment, then nodded. “You’re right.”

  “I know I am.” Hyato said. “So. I can’t find any tracks, can you?”

  Yan stepped out into the road, looking around. “I will. I have to.”