Dragon's Archon - Ch. 5 - Choosing a Path - Alpha (Patreon)

After my short victory, nothing was more humbling than failing to do something as basic as walking. At least the weather was nice. The vibrant blue sky illuminated the Talis’ planetary rings, which emphasized that I wasn’t in Kansas anymore.

After I fell the first time, I learned my lesson of keeping my head down and focused on my movement. The long stretches of rock filled dirt road was like walking in a minefield, each protrusion threatening to send me tumbling to my face. Each stumble was more frustrating than the last, and I soon felt myself cursing the lack of foresight that I had.

It took me a few hours before I managed to enter a good groove. I used the inquisitor's war hammer as a short crutch any time I needed extra stability. The benefit of my increased durability meant that every time I fell, at least it didn’t hurt.

I didn’t know where I was on this planet. I had a few names of towns and kingdoms, but all of that was meaningless without the understanding of the size of the planet and its surface. As the day went on and the suns rose, the day's warmth increased exponentially. I didn’t quite understand how the perks affected my own biology, but even though I was warm, I wasn’t sweating which took some getting used to.

I contemplated whether that had something to do with my draconic bloodline or the fact that at least from a stat perspective, I didn’t expend any energy. However, it reinforced the feeling that this was a new me, a new body. And with a long walk ahead of me with little more than focusing on the road, my mind wandered.

A lot of that time was spent trying to make sense of everything that had happened in the last few hours. It was a surreal feeling knowing that I had died, but that I was born again. Half of me was wondering when the curtain was going to open and reveal that this was a fantastic hallucination, or my dying mind's attempt at trying to bring me some semblance of peace in my last moments.

The hardest part was when I thought about all the men I had just killed. Their shredded bodies spread across the broken stone floor that was now shades of green and red. I remembered their wide eyes and frightened faces as I pulled the very life from their bodies. It was a harrowing fate. One that they may or may not have deserved.

When I felt myself pull back into darkness, I reminded myself that they were just following orders, and at the end of the day, it was either them or me. I tried to find some answer for some way to process that this was going to be the norm and that what I was doing was justified. The faces of those that were now counting on me were enough to strengthen my resolve.

Then there was that dark part of me that wasn’t bothered at all. It was that same part of me that was competitive and wanted to win by any means necessary. That told me the ends justified the means. It’s not like I could be surprised. From the very beginning, Heluna foretold me that this was a possibility. This was always an option for the path that I could take. Seeing the power I weld, only fueled that dark side of me’s desire to use it more.

I was an Archon. There were very few people on Talis that could match my strength. Which implied that as long as I played my cards right, kept my head down, and focused on my goals, I would be unstoppable.

With the remaining time of my walk, I contemplated our next steps. I held two immediate goals. I needed to establish a foundation for which the sect would be built. That would require resources, people, and a good starting location.

I’d heard the inquisitor talk about King Archon Dupont. The thought of my sect establishing its own kingdom with its own set of laws, rules, and regulations was appealing. If I were to establish myself as a pinnacle archon to earn the respect of both my followers and my peers, I needed to be able to back up the power that swirled within me. A quote from one of my all-time favorite movies popped into my head: first you get the money, then you get the power and you get the women, all of which seemed like my calling.

However, no one would respect an Archon that couldn’t control his body enough to stumble into their first meeting with him. I needed to find a way to better control my body so that I could establish my authority without question. Which brought me to my second goal: finding the remainder of Heluna’s father’s armor.

From the moment I put on the gloves there was a better understanding of not only the magic that was contained within, but I had a better understanding of my body, allowing me precise control. My mind settled on my immediate tasks: money and the armor. Wherever we decided to go from here, I knew I would need Yda and Cartha’s help to figure out what would be the best path forward.

Wherever I was, I assumed it was deep in the countryside somewhere. During the hours that I walked, I didn’t see another person. The only company I kept were the birds that chirped in the nearby trees and the small rodents scurrying in the fields. Seeing the creek the Cartha had spoken about before she left filled me with an exhilaration and reassurance that I was on the right path.

As I continued on, the day had become dusk and dusk turned into night. My eyes adjusted as they had done before, allowing me to see clearly as I continued on without light. When the broken stone bridge came into view, I smiled. I scoured about the high brush that surrounded the edge of the creek looking for any sign of Cartha.

I didn’t see her at first. But then a waft smelled like tree sap pulled my attention across the creek. It was only then, when I focused up in the branches above, that I spotted her glowing blue eyes.

She had her bow fully drawn with a nocked arrow. Part of me wondered if she was going to shoot me, but after a moment of recognition, she relaxed and slung her bow back over her body. With the grace of an acrobat, she back flipped off of the tree's branch.

She ran up the broken side of the bridge and jumped to the cracked edge. After weaving through tall grass she stepped onto the dirt path and sauntered toward me. What Impressed me the most is through all of that, I didn’t hear a single sound.

Seeing her was a relief. I dropped to my bottom and took a moment to relax. The entire time that I walked required so much mental concentration to ensure that I didn’t fall, left me feeling mentally exhausted. Having a horse or carriage would’ve been a godsend. It wasn’t until that moment that I thought taking the shorter route to Muckbrooke and having the potential to purchase one would have been a worthwhile detour. But I didn’t even know if those existed.

“So you arrived,” Cartha said. “I’m honestly surprised.”

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“Part of me didn’t believe that you were an Archon. It felt more logical and that you would either die or be captured. But judging by the blood splattered all over your body and the torn clothes, I assume you were victorious?”

“I was,” I said, puffing out my chest a bit. “Honestly, walking here was harder.”

“That’s a bold claim. The Empire’s soldiers and inquisitors shouldn’t be underestimated. Did you leave any survivors?”

“No. They would’ve killed me if I was just a simple man, but as we both know, that’s not what I am.”

“So it seems. However, I didn’t see the combat with my own eyes. You could have easily made an arrangement with the inquisitor and just cut up your clothes to make it look like you kill them.”

I looked up at Cartha with a firm brow. “Are you being serious right now? You think that I made a deal with them and what, they covered me in pig's blood?”

“Maybe,” she shrugged

I clenched my jaw as I stood back to my feet. “What’s your problem? Ever since I arrived, you’ve been nothing but an asshole to me. Tell me. What did I do to deserve this?”

“It’s you and that damn cult of yours!” Cartha shouted. “Ever since Yda started hearing voices, she’s been completely different and obsessed. I thought she was going crazy. I pitied her. It was I who tried to keep her safe from herself. But she didn’t relent. At every opportune moment, she preached to those who would listen, and because of that, we’ve been on the run from inquisitors, town guards, and the other sects. I tried to get her to stop, but nothing matters to her anymore except this. It’s all she talks and cares about. It’s completely consumed her.”

It was pretty clear to me she wasn’t upset at me; it was more so the whole situation. If it was as she described, she probably felt like she was losing a friend. I wasn’t going to say that for fear of upsetting her further, but I would not tolerate her unjustifiable negativity towards me.

“Look,” I said, holding out my hand.” Whether or not you agree that I am in Archon, I don’t give a shit. If you don’t like me, fine. But I’ve got a job to do, and Yda is an important part of that job. It’s obvious that you care about her and that you want to see what’s best for her. I want the same thing for her.

“How can you say that when the sect is what’s causing her to be hunted?”

“For now yes. But it will not always be that way. We’re being hunted because we’re weak. Once we show we’re strong and we solidify ourselves in this world, there will be less of that.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because of what I just proved back there!” I shouted pointing behind me. “I just killed eleven men after meeting the both of you for less than an hour. Anyone who threatens those who I care about will have hell to pay.”

“Hell to pay?” Cartha asked, leaning back. “I don’t understand.”

The lack of her understanding nearly sent me to the ground. I hadn’t even realized there could be idiom differences when we both spoke English. “It just means I will make them regret it.”

“But you barely know us? How can I trust you? I don’t know you.”

“Don’t,” I said, shrugging. “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t completely trust you, either. All that I ask is that for the time being is that we come to a mutual understanding and respect for each other, for Yda’s sake?”

Cartha crossed her arms and looked off into the sky before nodding back towards me. “I won’t respect you because of your fancy title. But I respect your actions. If you killed the inquisitors and their soldiers, as you said you did, then that will be enough… for now.”

“I’ll take it,” I said with a smile.

“Come on then,” Cartha said, turning around and waving. “We have a bit of a hike until we get to the camp.”

“Odd question, but is there any chance that we could sprint towards it, I asked. It’s weird to say, but it’s actually easier for me to run at full speed than walk.”

Cartha cracked a smile as she looked back. “If you can keep up.”

I wasn’t ready for her speed. In less than a second, she sprinted ten paces ahead of me. With a wicked grin, I launched off my heel and ran behind her. While I closed the distance, she distanced herself with her agility.

I tumbled to the ground as she turned on a dime and leaped to the other side of the creek. On all fours, I propelled myself off the ground, jumping higher than I’d ever jumped before. It took me a few seconds before I landed in a thick brush.

Cartha laughed at my expense. She slowed down long enough to allow me to climb out of twisted vines and crushed twigs. I double checked that the coin pouch was still tied to my belt before lunging back into my stride. After a few more minutes of sprinting away from the road, we came across a rocky hill with sharp slate rock that protruded from the surface.

Cartha slowed down to a walk as we rounded the edge. On the other side, enormous pieces of rock formed a cave opening. With the surrounding trees providing shade from the stars and moons above, my eyes adjusted, allowing me to see perfectly inside the opening.

The cave was barely ten feet in diameter. Yda sat tucked behind her pack along the far back wall. When she heard our footsteps, she lowered her head to make herself smaller.

“Yda, it’s me,” Cartha said as she entered.

“Did you find him?” the priestess asked, poking her head up.

“I’m here,” I said, leaning on the opening’s edge.

Yda jumped to her feet and sprinted toward me with outstretched arms. She wrapped her tiny self around my thigh, squeezing as hard as she could. “You made it! You made it! I was so worried.”

“Yeah… and I’m fine, too,” Cartha muttered under her breath.

I watched the jealous voidelf slump to the ground before I patted Yda’s back. “I promised, didn't I?”

“You did,” she said with a big smile. “But your legs… I didn’t know if—are they better?”

“Not really. I’m moving like an old person. But I got the job done.”

She let out a short laugh and scrunched her nose before her face soured. She sniffed my clothes and jerked back. “I smell blood. Are you hurt?”

“No, it’s not mine. I’m fine.”

She pulled at my tattered clothes. “They really tried to kill you, didn’t they?”

“They certainly tried. It’s a good thing you two left when you did. It got pretty messy.”

“We’re lucky we did without them seeing us,” Cartha said before pushing on Yda’s arm. “When I say we’ve got to go, I mean it.”

“I agree,” I said. “Yda, the goddess and I need you. You’re as important a part of this as I am. If something were to happen to you, I don’t know what would happen. I appreciate what you were trying to do back there, but I can defend myself. So if things get bad again, I want you to listen to Cartha. If she says go, then go.”

Yda looked down and gave Cartha a hug. She whispered an apology as I moved to the other side of the cave and sat down. The priestess walked back to her bag and plopped in between us before speaking.

“I’m sorry if I endangered the both of you,” she said with glistening eyes. “This is all new to me, too. I just got so caught up in the moment that I wasn’t thinking about how it would affect either of you. I was scared, and I panicked.”

Cartha leaned back and let out a heavy sigh. “It’s… fine...”

“We’re all learning this as we go,” I said. “I’m sure there will be a few bumps along the way. But if we work together, I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”

“Speaking of,” Cartha said, pointing out the opening. “We should decide where we want to go from here. While it’s probably going to take a few days or so before the unit reports as missing and then, however long to send the replacements back out here, we shouldn’t stick around.”

Yda turned to me. “Your Holiness?”

“Do either of you have a map so I can get a better understanding of where we are?” I asked.

Cartha shook her head. “No. I know the area, though.”

“Would it be easy to get one?”

“Not nearby. A large town might have one. But we’d probably need to go to one of the major cities.”

“What’s the closest?”

“Clearhill is to the immediate south of us, but we’re in Dupont territory, so I suggest we keep moving. We have Dunwihr to the east, which is the Bismark Kingdom’s capital. However, there’s no way we are getting in there without some sort of writ or agreement.”

“What’s that for? To say we can get into the city?”

“Something like that. Bismark is extremely closed off. The dwarves are a fairly prickly bunch about having the right paperwork for everything. If we were part of a guild or nobility, we could have someone vouch for us, but unless either of you knows someone inside, that’s probably going to be a long shot.”

“Is a fake ID a thing here?”

“ID?”

“Identification. Like something that looks legitimate but isn’t.”

Cartha and Yda shared a look before the huntress continued. “You’re talking about a forgery, right?”

“Yeah. Exactly.”

“I mean, sure… that exists here, but that’s not what I was suggesting. If we got caught with something like that, it’s straight to the city’s jail.”

“Hmm… that’s fair. We’d have to find someone first, and then it would probably cost a significant sum.”

Cartha shrugged. “I wouldn’t know, but I would guess so.”

“If Dunwihr isn’t an option, what’s next?” I asked.

“Well, the Bismark Kingdom is almost dead center on the continent. If we head east, we’re looking at Harkwood. To the north is Eimalon. Then to the south is the Kingdom of Nubia. But those are going to be weeks or longer depending on if we rode or walked.”

I fumbled with the amulet around my neck. There doesn’t seem to be a good option, I thought. We’re in a pinched state on the run from one foe. Everywhere we could go would take weeks on the road. We could probably purchase some horses, but that could be money saved. If there is one location where we could freely rest, allow me to get the information needed, and come up with a plan, a month there would be better spent than on the road.

I looked up at the pair and said, “I need information and opportunity. My goal for us is to build the Sect of Rebirth into something that’s known far and wide. We have to stand above the other sects and make a name for ourselves. Hearing that Dupont has an Emperor Archon, kind of makes me a little envious, and think that we should have something similar.”

Yda gasped with excitement. “Like our own kingdom?”

“Yep! And before you roll your eyes, I understand how lofty of a goal it is. To accomplish something like that, we’re going to need a lot of coin, resources, and people. But before we can acquire enough capital, I need to figure out a way to control my body. No one will respect an Archon who is fumbling over himself everywhere he goes.”

“Should we seek a healer?”

“I’m not hurt, so I don’t think so. When I put on these gauntlets, I gained a better control and understanding of my body. I think I need to find more pieces of the armor.”

“Oh!” Yda shouted before fumbling with her pack. “I have the information from Heluna scribbled down somewhere.” When she pulled out a scroll, she handed it to me and said, “Here you go!”

I unraveled it and rolled my eyes when I realized it was a riddle. “Of course it couldn’t be easy.”

“What does it say?” Cartha asked.

I cleared my throat before reading the passage.

“In a plane of Xenith’s home,

there lives unending towers of tomes.

Eight souls of a sacred chalice,

guards that which contains Malice.”

I looked up at the two women sitting across from me. “Do either of you have any ideas?”

Both of them got lost in thought. Cartha rested her chin on her knees while Yda recounted the saying in her head. I knew I wouldn’t be of help here since the context seemed to imply something that should be known. When Heluna said she had the location of the armor, I assumed she had all the locations with exact directions. I didn’t expect this to turn into some kind of treasure hunt.

“Xenith’s home…” Yda said. “He’s the Dragon God of the Void…”

“Yeah… and eight souls of a sacred chalice…” Cartha said. “That’s got to be important, right?”

Yda’s face lit up, and she raised a finger. “Oh! I think I’ve got it. The Chalice of Thorns!”

“Oh… yeah I guess I should have known it was going to be someone powerful.”

“Either of you want to clue me in?” I asked.

“The Chalice of Thorns is a group of powerful sorcerers and sorceresses. They act as an authority of the Star Touched, who are those trained in the manipulation of magic not blessed by the Gods and Goddesses.”

“Oh, that’s a possibility?”

“Oh yes. Albeit very rare. It’s quite a dangerous pursuit. Most initiates die during their tutelage. Only the strongest are able to learn and manipulate the winds of the void.”

“How do we find them?”

“Most of the major kingdoms have a representative. Most act as advisors to royalty.”

I leaned my head back and sighed. “So we’re right back where we were, with no clear direction. Is there any place that meets all our requirements, would have a member of the Chalice of Thorns, and be safe enough to stay in?”

Yda thought for several seconds before looking at Cartha. After a few seconds, Cartha shook her head. “No… we’re not going there, so don’t even ask.”

“What if I ask?” I said in a joking tone. Cartha looked at me with an expressionless glare that told me she was not amused. I decided to table that for now and ask Yda about it later.

The priestess offered another suggestion. “One of the cities in Marta?”

The huntress furled her lip. “Ugh, you want to go there?”

“What’s Marta?” I asked.

“It’s a large island chain. There’s one large island and a few smaller islands off the southern tip. It was primarily uninhibited wilds full of monsters. Part of it still is. However, about ten years ago, several prominent gang leaders banded together to found Liberty Bay. The rumor has it they were tired of living under the restrictions of nobility and earned enough to start their own thing.”

“I can respect that.”

“Don’t let the name fool you. It’s a haven of lowlifes, cutthroats, and criminals.”

“So that sounds like it’s off the table.”

Cartha slapped Yda’s leg. “What about Nubia? It’s at least a little more civilized than Liberty Bay.”

“I don’t know which sorcerer would be there, but there’s an excellent shot that there is one.”

“What can we expect from Nubia?” I asked.

“Well, technically, the Kingdom of Nubia expands all across the southern sands, making it the largest kingdom on our continent. However, it’s so hot and dry most of it is inhibited except for the creatures that live in it. Nubia is a major trade city, so we should be able to get most of what we need supply wise. It’s also fairly welcoming to various sects and businesses as long as you pay your dues.”

“So there is no major sect that would try to come after us there?”

“The prominent sect in Nubia is for Ikkala, the Dragon God of the Horde. As long as we pay our respects and make a donation, we should be fine.”

“That sounds like our best option, then. Do you both agree?” When they both shrugged and nodded, I asked. “How long do we think it would take to travel there?”

Cartha rubbed her chin when Yda turned to her. “Depends on the pace. On foot, if we keep a fairly consistent pace, maybe twenty-three or twenty-four days. If we’re taking consistent stops or more sluggishly, it’s going to take longer.”

“I’m not as athletic as the both of you,” Yda said, glancing up before looking away. “Just keep that in mind.”

“Right,” I said, waving my finger in the air. “What about transportation? Like a horse or carriage?”

“It’d probably cut the time down in half,” Cartha said. “But we’d have to find someone willing to sell us the mounts or carriage. We might get lucky with a nearby village or farm that would sell us one, but we’d most likely have to head to somewhere with a stable like a major city if we wanted to buy one. The hard part is finding a breed that would be strong enough for you to ride it. A carriage would probably work better for you, since we could get multiple horses to pull you. I’ve also done some protection work for merchant caravans to protect. There are multiple options.”

I appreciated what Cartha was trying to do. She was giving me all the options before me. However, as I contemplated, all I could think about was the amulet.

If the trip was going to take weeks, it would be much better suited to use it to transport us there. I assumed we’d be there long enough for the amulet to recharge and I could hit the ground running. Without access to the information I sought, I would be wasting the boons of my gift, sitting around doing nothing. I really wanted a library where I could spend hours learning and reading.

“Have either of you been to Nubia?”

“I have,” Cartha said. “It’s been years, though.”

I unclasped the amulet around my neck and handed it to Cartha. “Here.”

Cartha turned flush, and she pressed her back against the wall. “I—uh… what are you doing?”

“It’s a teleportation amulet. My understanding is that it won’t work unless you’ve been there. So, since you have, it’s up to you to get us there.”

“Oh… right,” Cartha said, grabbing the jewelry.

I cocked my brow. “Why did you act that way? Did you think I was giving it to you?”

“Nevermind!” Cartha said, jumping to her feet, eliciting a giggle from Yda. “Let’s just get a move on.”

We all stood and picked up our things. After exiting the cave, Cartha put the necklace on. I watched her pupils dilate as if triggered by her new understanding of the magic.

“Everyone ready?” When Yda and I nodded, Cartha grabbed our arms and closed her eyes. “Okay, here we go.”