Chapter 19

  Uneasy Allies

  Ceaseless winds were the Drakmor Mountain gales. Constant as the sunsrise, unpredictable as the moons. Through net nor flask could mountain winds be caught, as freedom was their core. To live as the wind, a dream worth following.

  Aeroth smiled and set down his pen, pleased with himself.

  “You can predict the moons.” Someone said.

  “What? Really?” Aeroth said, turning to his companion.

  “Yes, really.” She said, “Close your mouth bro, it’s not that impressive.”

  “Since when?” Aeroth asked.

  “Since always! Geez, you’re so lame. Just cause you never studied anything doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”

  “Aww, gimme a break Nayo.” Aeroth said. “I studied. I did. I learned all forty combat techniques.”

  “Geez.” Nayo said, puffing out her cheeks a bit. She stood almost as tall as Aeroth, but leaner by far. Nayo’s brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, except for the curls she had draped over her Feral ears. “When are we going to get Yan?” Nayo asked. “I didn’t ask to come listen to your bad poetry.”

  “She’s here in the mountains already.” Aeroth said. “No need to fetch her when she is already heading in the direction of the village.”

  “That’s boring.” Nayo said, “I’m gonna go find her.”

  “Wait, don’t go!” Aeroth said as Nayo hopped to her feet.

  “Why?” Nayo asked, her eyes narrowed.

  “I’m the one who is supposed to fetch her.” Aeroth said. “I should go.”

  “Then come along, we don’t have all day.” Nayo said.

  “That’s not what I mean!” Aeroth said. “If you go and we bring her back together, how will that look for me?”

  “Oh, is that it?” Nayo said, smiling. She walked over to Aeroth, placing a hand on his cheek.

  “I knew you’d understand.” Aeroth said, smiling.

  Nayo slapped him out of his seat. “You already came back to the village without her, so you already failed. Get over yourself.” Nayo stalked out of the room.

  Aeroth groaned and sat up, getting his gear together without enthusiasm. “I wish I had brothers instead of sisters.” He said, pulling his coat on.

  Nayo peered back into the room, making Aeroth flinch. “I heard that.”

  Aeroth hung his head and got ready to retrieve Yan. This time, he wouldn’t fail.

  Yan led the group along a path into the rocks. The trail led around a bend and over a small ridge, leading to a small old campsite. Yan looked around while Hyato and Sebastian kept eyes out for bandits or Zori. After inspecting the ground with energy laced eyes, Yan shook her head. “This is a decoy trail.”

  “Another one?” Hyato complained. “Three in a row? How many decoys did they set up?”

  “I don’t know! Gimme a minute!” Yan said, pacing back and forth.

  Sebastian frowned as he looked around the area. “Which way did they go after setting the decoy?”

  “Back towards the road. Dammit!” Yan swore. “Let’s head back.” She said.

  “Hold on, are you sure you can’t find any more clues here?” Sebastian asked.

  “No. Yes. I mean, maybe if I had a few hours.” Yan said.

  “We can’t waste hours, can we?” Hyato said.

  “Of course, if we don’t find a lead, we’ll be wasting hours anyways.” Sebastian said. “Let’s look around some more.” He began to inspect the ground and rocks along with Yan. They overturned stones and checked the dirt.

  “This dirt might be from somewhere else, maybe.” Yan said.

  “What does that tell us?” Hyato asked, maintaining a watch on the path leading to this place.

  “Only that they might have been elsewhere in the mountains.” Yan said, sighing.

  “I’m not detecting any lingering spells.” Sebastian said, “So whatever methods they used to leave this trail, they were physical. Someone came here before leaving. Can you follow their tracks out?”

  “I haven’t found any tracks out.” Yan snapped. “If they hid their trail, they did so better than I can detect it.”

  “We should just check that cave again.” Hyato said.

  “It was a dead end before.” Sebastian said. “But we don't have any other leads.” Yan nodded without much vigor. The party, minus the missing Michael, returned along the path back to the large road. The boulders they had hid behind and the bandits were still conspicuous for having up and vanished. The road looked like a simple stone path, with occasional cracks and piles of dust.

  Sebastian brought forth a light and entered the cave again. At about forty feet in, the cave ended. The walls were smoother than they should have been, and they had been unable to find paths through. “We have to be missing something here.” Yan said.

  “You are.” The new voice came from the mouth of the cave. Yan and Hyato drew weapons as they turned to face the newcomer, but Sebastian held up a hand.

  “Care to illuminate us, Mien?” Sebastian asked.

  The former crown prince of Myrrh entered the cave, followed by two soldiers. He didn’t look like a prince, more like a ranger. He wore a green coat and leather gear that suggested he knew his way around forests. His hair was the brilliant silver of the royal line, tracing his heritage to the Silver Wolves that married into the royal house. Mien shook his head. “Illumination is the problem. Kill the light, Sebastian.”

  The light was dampened, casting them in a semi-darkness. Yan didn’t drop her guard, but Hyato sheathed his sword. “Alright, the light is out.” Sebastian said. “Now what?” Mien closed his eyes, they too were silver in color. Yan narrowed hers.

  Mien seemed to focus for a time, then spoke in a soft voice. “There is a murmur of wind from above.” He looked up, walking around. “Ah, see?” He pointed, but nothing was above.

  “What are you pointing at?” Yan asked, still on edge.

  “Cool down woman!” One of the Soldiers said, the female one.

  “Why should I?” Yan snapped.

  “Yan, please.” Sebastian said, at about the same time Mien said, “Kris, enough.”

  “Now look from where I stand.” Mien said, before stepping back from the spot he stood. Hyato and Sebastian both moved and looked up. Above, they could see a faint blue ‘x’ on the ceiling.

  “A hidden marking, indicating the path.” Sebastian said.

  “How do we get up there?” Hyato asked.

  “It must require someone waiting to let down a rope or something.” Sebastian said.

  “Before we worry about that.” Yan said, after glancing at the mark. “What are you doing here?” She asked Mien.

  Mien nodded, not averting his gaze from Yan and her weapon. “I have been tracking you all since Nita. There are questions to answer. Where is the white haired one, Michael I believe he was called?”

  “We don’t have to tell you that.” Yan said.

  “Why do you ask?” Sebastian said to Mien.

  “A terrible tragedy has befallen the village of Liniva, and I believe you four were there when it happened.” Mien said, “I must get to the bottom of this.”

  “Why do you think we were there?” Hyato asked.

  “Apologies, I do not know your name.” Mien said. “I am Mien, my companions are Kris,” He indicated the tall imposing soldier woman, “And Pierre,” He indicated the shorter man, about Yan’s height, who seemed more studious than normal soldiers.

  “Hyato. You already know everyone else. My question.”

  Mien studied the swordsman for a moment then inclined his head, “I noticed unique markings left on the ground in Liniva, which also appeared on the ground in my brief battle with Michael in Nita. I saw similar markings on the way here, just outside even.” Hyato remained stoic, but his eyes shifted for a hint of a moment, recognition. The Dark Blade must leave behind a mark or something. Mien continued to speak, “I came to retrieve Michael, and the lot of you for that matter, to determine what really happened.”

  “Well it appears there is a roadblock in your current plan.” Sebastian said.

  “Michael is not here.” Mien said, “What happened? A quarrel, perhaps?”

  “Not between us,” Sebastian said. “He is gone. Taken by bandits. Can you track him?”

  “Sebastian!” Hyato exclaimed.

  “We can’t let him help!” Yan protested.

  “And why not, exactly?” Sebastian asked. “He is the finest tracker in the realm, and is only trying to solve a mystery. We want to find Michael fast, and having him help us means a greater chance of taking on the bandits.”

  “The question is.” Mien said. “Why would mountain bandits kidnap him?”

  “Ooh! I know the answer!” Pierre said. He sounded a bit young for a soldier. “This is why.” He withdrew a sheet of paper. It was too dark to make out, so Sebastian created a Magelight, at the same moment that Kris did.

  The illuminated sheet of paper was a Wanted Poster, depicting an empty eyed person with light hair, Michael, except the scars on the cheeks weren’t dark enough and the proportion was off.

  “What’s this?” Mien asked.

  “A Hundred Million Gil!” Kris exclaimed, causing everyone to look at the price tag.

  “Wanted alive, huh.” Yan said, relief evident in her voice.

  “How peculiar.” Sebastian said, “A crown bounty, really?”

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  “This was posted three days ago throughout the Kingdom.” Pierre said. “Messengers from the Mystic Citadel brought it to every city in Myrrh. My transmission pack picked it up and has been deciphering since last night. I only just got it to print a little while ago.”

  “What’s a transmission pack?” Yan asked, looking over at the soldier without her edge.

  “It’s a fantastic device!” Pierre said, excited, “Using the latest Manos engine it can pick up-”

  “Discuss it later.” Mien said. “We need to move now. I will help find and rescue Michael from the Bandit King.”

  “The... what?” Kris asked.

  “Drakmor Mountain is the home of a dangerous person who calls himself the Bandit King. Over the past three years, he has gathered seventeen bandit clans from southern Myrrh and all of Cryston, banding them together under his flag. He is a dangerous person, and himself has a bounty of a considerable value.” Mien said.

  “You probably didn’t know because you were assigned to patrol the North-East.” Pierre said. “But, is it really the Bandit King?”

  “All the bandits in the mountains are almost certainly under his banner. The trouble is, Drakmor Mountains are technically a Wild area between Myrrh and Cryston, and are therefore outside of normal jurisdictions.” Mien said.

  “Then we need to work together.” Hyato looked up at the mark. “Up there?”

  “It’s a start.” Sebastian said, “But how do we get up there?” As he finished the question Yan vanished. Mien gasped, showing shock on his face as he took a step back. Mien’s sudden emotion made Kris and Pierre blink in confusion.

  A rope ladder fell from above, and Yan peered from a hole in the ceiling. “No one up here, but there is a tunnel leading through. Can someone bring up the light?” She asked.

  Hyato gave Sebastian a glance, and the Evari tactician climbed the ladder to bring a light up to Yan. One by one they all climbed up, until just Hyato and Mien remained.

  Mien recovered his composure, and shook his head. “She’s a ninja?”

  “Something like that.” Hyato said. “You first. That way, you know I wont cut the rope ladder and drop you.” Mien considered that for a moment, and then climbed the ladder.

  The room above the cave was small, and the only comfort was a smooth stone chair, but there was a long tunnel leading from that room in the direction the cave would have gone in the first place. Just big enough for two people to walk through without rubbing shoulders. Mien went ahead near the front, but Yan walked to be at his side. Mien only gave Yan a passing glance before he focused on the floor, eyes searching out tracks. Yan copied him, looking where he looked.

  “What is she doing?” Kris said, her eyes narrowed at Yan. “Too suspicious.”

  “I’d endeavor a guess that she is learning from Mien.” Sebastian said, walking at the side of the tall soldier woman. Despite being an Evari, Sebastian was not as tall as Kris.

  “Stealing his skills.” Kris said, scowling.

  “Polishing her own by observing a Master at work.” Sebastian said. “It may be unspoken, but we’ve entered a temporary truce. Set aside your wariness for now.”

  “I’m not going to loosen up just because we’re working together.” Kris said, looking over at Sebastian, “Got a problem with that?”

  Sebastian smiled at her, a winning smile that made Kris pause for just a moment, “My dear, I would never ask you to do something you are uncomfortable about.”

  “Good.” Kris said, looking away from the man.

  Pierre sighed from the back row, glancing at Hyato for a moment. Hyato remained silent, no expression on his serious face.

  The temporary allies followed Mien’s guidance through the tunnel. There were off-shoots, but Mien chose a path at each fork without any hesitation. Though only a half hour passed, a tension that had been broiling faded when they reached a light at the end of the tunnel.

  From cavern to mountain path the allies went. A pine tree and some shrubs adorned the right of the path, but the left ended at a steep cliff overlooking a sprawling canyon. Grey and brown stone formed several steep channels of bare rock, with scarce vegetation. “They came through here for certain.” Mien said. “There’s only one path, so let’s continue.” Mien continued along the path, and everyone went with.

  As they rounded the corner, the scent of blood made Mien and Yan lurch. Sebastian dashed to the front and took in the battle ahead. A half dozen bandits were dead on the ground, two remained alive. The rest must have fled. From their wounds, there must have been more of the enemy before. Two Gibzori fought the remaining bandits, both bloodied and glowing with lines of energy. They were taller than the other Gibs they had fought in these mountains.

  “Those are Obgibs.” Sebastian said. “We need to get down there and kill them now!”

  “They’re a hundred yards away, over mountainous terrain.” Kris said, “Those two are as good as gone.”

  “You don’t understand.” Sebastian said. “When Gibzori eat, their energy levels balance out. Those two Obgibs are close to death, but if they eat that much food they could become Hobgibs!”

  Kris and Pierre looked shocked, Hyato scratched at his cheek, looking lost. Mien started to rush along the path, followed by Yan. “We don’t have time to fight a Hobgib.” Mien said. “Hurry!”

  The battle progressed as they raced to catch up. The two bandits managed to land a killing blow on one of the Obgibzori, but the remaining Zori slashed them down with brutal talons. It had deep grey skin and was taller and thinner than most other Gibs, which made it look almost gaunt and skeletal, but it had bulging muscles in it's limbs.

  The Obgib began to feast on the dead bandits, tearing off limbs and gnawing them down whole. Hyato ran at Sebastian’s side as they raced to slay the Obgib. “I thought Zori reproduced when they ate?” Hyato asked.

  “Many do, but it depends on the category. Gibzori balance their energy, making it easier for them to transform.” Sebastian said.

  “Oh now you tell us!” Hyato rushed to keep up with Yan and Mien. The three of them moved quick, running down the path to reach the straightaway that led to the snacking Zori.

  As soon they reached that straight path all three of them were left in the dust. With a howl of challenge, Kris rushed forth, spear poised to strike, and moved at incredible speed towards the Gib. She dashed past, leaving a trail of fading yellow energy as her Valon energy tails waved back from her head. Kris closed the gap in seconds, leaping the pile of bodies to slam her spear into the Obgib’s head with all her might! There was a piercing screech of pain as the Gibzori was pushed back.

  A silence fell for a moment, before a sudden explosion knocked Kris back, her spear sent flying off to one side as she tumbled along the ground! Dust filled the area where the Gib had been, as the other five people reached the rocky clearing. Pierre knelt beside Kris, applying bandages with careful precision. Kris sat up, wobbling back and forth, “Did ah getem?” She asked, punch drunk from the tumble.

  Mien and Hyato drew their swords as the dust began to clear. A tense silence pervaded the space, before a sudden wave of energy rolled over the six warriors, making them all cringe and step back from the force. The dust exploded away from the energy as the Gibzori stood tall. It had gotten a foot taller, now taller than anyone in the party, with more defined muscles on it's lean body. It's dark grey skin pulsed with cyan lines of energy, and a deep viscous fluid dripped down from it's talons, sharp claws at the end of each finger.

  Hyato stepped forth, but was too slow. The Hobgibzori flashed it's hands together to cause three cyan afterimages of energy to appear around it, then the Gib and it's energy doubles rushed forth, each going towards a different person. The first double reached Yan, delivering a shallow kick that had little effect on her. She responded with a twin dagger strike, and the double burst away into a crackle of static.

  The second double closed in on Mien, who struck out with his dual broadswords. Before the swords connected, the Hobgib and double changed places! The Hobgib jumped into a pirouette, dodging through the two slashes with a tumble, and delivered a heavy kick to Mien’s face, causing him to fly back twenty feet from the impact!

  Kris tried to avoid being struck by an energy double, but the Hobgib appeared in the double’s place, slamming into her shoulder with its arm. She rolled with the blow and to her feet. Hyato pivoted in and delivered a powerful rising slash at the Hobgib, but it was replaced with one of the energy doubles! Hyato’s slash destroyed the double in a cloud of static.

  The Hobgib switched places again, returning to its original position, where one of the doubles had remained. There had been one extra, so two yet remained. “So it can clone itself and warp.” Mien said. “Doesn’t matter, destroy it!” He rushed towards the Hobgib’s real body. “Get rid of the clones!”

  Yan and Pierre reacted, each taking out one of the remaining energy doubles. Yan swept in with a surge kick, and Pierre struck with a long thin metal club. The doubles faded into static energy as Mien closed in on the Hobgib. The Hobgib lifted one leg as Mien approached, flexible enough to lift it's leg straight up from a standing position.

  “Dodge that, Mien!” Sebastian shouted.

  Mien twisted his blades in a swift fashion that made them fade from sight as he built up speed, then he swung them forth with a rush of force! The Hobgib pressed his hands together in a sign, creating the energy doubles, and switched places to behind Mien just before the ranger’s tech struck. The Hobgibzori brought his foot down with tremendous force onto Mien’s back, smashing him into the stone and cracking the ground. Pierre and Kris cried out in shock.

  Kris rushed at the Hobgib, jumping into a downward thrust with her spear. The Zori spun, it's arm snapping out to grab Kris by the arm. It continued the turn and tossed Kris to the side, though was stabbed in the arm in the process. It paid no heed to the wound as it whirled on the others.

  Hyato rushed forth, staying low, his sword sheathed at his side. The Hobgib stood as he approached, but the Energy Doubles scattered, each coming at Hyato from a different direction. Hyato tried to track all of his foes, uncertain as to which would be replaced with the Gib. He drew his sword and slashed all three, and they all fizzled into static. The next moment the Gib was upon him, arm reeled back. He slammed into Hyato with a heavy strike, raking the talons across his chest and pushing him back in the process. The Gibzori hadn’t swapped places that time.

  “This isn’t working, it’s tearing us apart!” Pierre said, looking from Kris to Mien to Hyato. Mien and Kris were already rising. Kris hadn’t taken a serious hit, but Mien... “Lord Mien, are you okay?” Pierre asked.

  “I’m fine.” Mien said, stretching his neck and arms with audible cracking noises, “I was trained as a Myrrhmidon. It’ll take more than that to put me down.” The Hobgib looked at Mien, then Kris, and then all the others. Mien and Pierre stepped a bit closer, closing the distance.

  The Hobgib jumped, soaring through the air towards Kris. She dodged out of the way, but the Gib struck a cliff wall with it's foot and jumped again, closing in on Yan. At the same time, the two energy doubles started jumping from vertical surfaces as well, building up speed.

  Yan threw a dagger at the Hobgib, but it swapped places to avoid the attack, losing a double in the process. Another double leapt at Pierre, and the Hob swapped to it’s spot to deliver a kick to the soldier’s side, sending a sharp pain through the man! The Hobgib began jumping around again.

  “It’s jumping like a Senne.” Kris said, tracking the Hobgib and trying not to let any of the doubles get behind her.

  “It keeps moving around too much.” Yan complained.

  “It’s six on one, we can take it.” Mien said, widening his stance.

  Sebastian helped Pierre to his feet. “It’s not six on one, none of you are working together.” He said. “Get ahold of yourselves. Simultaneous strikes are the only way to defeat it, now group up!”

  “Why should we listen to you?” Kris said, frowning.

  “Listen to him.” Mien said, moving over to the man, “He’s the best.”

  “What do you-”

  “After the fight. Sebastian?” Mien asked.

  As they grouped up the Hobgib rushed in for an attack! Sebastian thrust both palms out and created a dozen vibes that shot out in all directions. The Hobgib swapped out of harm’s way, allowing it's doubles to fizzle away. “There are four energy doubles.” Sebastian said. “Mien, Yan, Hyato, and Kris, each of you chase a double, attack on my signal at full power. Pierre and I will go after the Hob.”

  “We’ll follow your lead, Sebastian.” Mien said, turning to face the Hobgibzori. The enemy brought out it's energy doubles and scattered into jumping again. “Go!”

  The party spread out to chase down doubles, and the Hobgib kept on the move. Pierre glanced at Sebastian then charged at the main body of the Hobgib with the man. The Hobgibzori moved around the arena, looking over the battle with a critical eye.

  As Pierre and Sebastian neared the foe, Sebastian’s foot struck a weak portion of stone, and his leg fell. “Ow!” Sebastian cried, tugging at his leg. He wasn’t moving.

  “Let me help,” Pierre said, turning back to help pull at Sebastian.

  “No time, go strike down the foe!” Sebastian said.

  “What? But-”

  “Go!” Sebastian ordered, still fighting to free his leg. Pierre turned and charged towards the Hobgib. The large agile Gibzori looked at the struggling Sebastian, and it's eyes glinted with a grin. It backed away, pursued by Pierre.

  The four energy doubles all shot towards Sebastian at full speed, closing in on all sides. Sebastian looked around at the oncoming foes, mouth agape, as the Hobgib swapped places to deliver it's attack.

  Sebastian fell, swallowed into the ground. The Hobgib flinched, aiming down, as Sebastian’s voice echoed from below. “Now!”

  Pierre struck the double that had been left behind, and the others closed in. Hyato, Kris, and Mien all destroyed their doubles, while Yan reached and stabbed the Hob with her twin daggers. It let out a snarl of rage, swinging around, but Yan was already away from it. Mien closed in with his swords, moving them in a spiral pattern before stabbing into the Hob. Kris struck with the force of her spear, and Hyato delivered a brutal upwards slash!

  The earth lifted Sebastian, ending the terramancy trick, and he stabbed his hand into the Gibzori. His fingers glowed with furious blue light and the powerful Zori thrashed and it's body began to melt where Sebastian attacked. It tried to pull away, but Yan dropped from above onto it, digging her daggers into it's head.

  The enemy went limp. Instead of becoming ashen and fading to naught, the Gibzori’s body melted into itself, swirling into a cyan orb in Sebastian’s hand. The semi-transparent object glowed in an ominous light.

  “What is that?” Yan asked.

  Sebastian looked around at everyone, who all stood watching him. They seemed to be fine from the battle, for the most part. “This is the power of that Gibzori.” He said.

  “And what does that mean?” Kris asked.

  “Wait, is this Monster Master?” Pierre asked.

  “Yes.” Sebastian said, “The skill to reduce a dying Zori into a concentrated attribute for infusion. Though I always thought it should be called Monster Taker.”

  “So you can infuse it's strength?” Hyato asked.

  “It depends. If I infuse this into myself or an item, I will gain some attribute that particular Zori had. It is difficult to specify what you’ll get before you create it.”

  “You’ve gained quite an interesting skill.” Mien said. “Is this what you’ve been doing for the last few years then, studying Monster Master?”

  Sebastian laughed, “Oh ho, this? This is just one of two dozen rare skills I’ve acquired in the past several years.”

  “Two dozen?!” Mien said, “That’s crazy.”

  “Now’s not the time.” Yan said, “We killed the Zori, let’s keep going. The bandits still have Michael.”

  “Right.” Sebastian said. “Lead the way, Mien.”

  The former prince of Myrrh looked at Sebastian, Yan, and Hyato once more with a critical gaze. Who were these people? “Let’s get moving.” He turned and found the trail to continue, leading everyone towards the bandits that kidnapped Michael.