The Vengeful Tide-Ch. 21 Teaser (Patreon)

Greetings my patrons,

I hope you've all been having a great June so far. I thought I'd make this teaser to just inform you that this chapter is definitely taking longer than I intended, but I think it's more than I've written recently!  Figured I'd give you guys something to read for now.

Also, the formatting for the novel is finished. With any luck, I imagine I'll have the novel out this weekend on Amazon. Thank you so much to all of you for supporting me!

New Patron Highlight: Lucas Glicenstein

........................

As I expected, Raven’s Shadow looked at me with confusion written across their faces. The group of seven looked at each other. Clearly, they didn’t expect such a statement from me. I suppose they wouldn’t since I hardly spent any time with them on this journey. The group usually kept to themselves.

“What do you mean by that?” Brant asked.

“It ‘be exactly what it sounds like,” I returned while I hiked my thumb back to the island. “You lot are gonna journey with me through the rest of the island, and I’m gonna make ya’ll one of the best adventurer groups in D’orn.”

“Yeah, we heard you the first time. Still doesn’t explain shit,” Gurok, the monk, replied with folded arms.

“Gurok’s attitude aside. I’m inclined to agree, Captain. What did you mean by that?” Racaell, the gun-sorcerer, asked.

I stared back at the island, my eyes zoomed in on the structure which laid in the distance. I then turned back to the group. “Tell me, has your group ever heard of a beast named Ỳrmïndle?” I asked.

They looked at each other again. Brant sighed. “No, captain. We haven’t. How will this thing we’ve never heard of make us famous?” he asked.

“Aye, now let me ask you. Have you ever hunted a frost troll?” I asked.

-x-

An’raie retracted her neck back until it turned back to what would be normal for a human. “Now then, what hast thou beckoned to me for? ‘Tis best thee practice thine own magic to handle the strain of spells should we meet the Betrayer,” she replied.

I frowned. “I didn’t call for ya, lass. You called me,” I replied.

She frowned as well. “‘Twas not I. Though I have agreed to this deal of thous, I still dare not think highly of your kind. Granted, thine thoughts in regards to mine appearance are flatteringly detestable,” she replied.

Flatteringly detestable? I wasn’t sure how both of those words together made any kind of sense, but I wasn’t about to argue with The Lonely Wail. That said, if she didn’t beckon for me to come here, and I didn’t call for her, then why were we both here?

“I do believe I can answer that for you, my dear captain.”

I widened my eyes. Never could I mistake that voice that moved through my body like a warm breeze. I looked behind An’raie. She turned around and the both of us looked at Liara. She stood behind us, but it was clear her body wasn’t actually here. Just like when I met with the Liara of my time before she vanished, this one was surrounded by an ephemeral light. It seemed to be fading with each moment.

“Liara!” I exclaimed.

The Witch of Draegnar smiled before she turned to my… guest. “‘Tis wonderful to see you in better spirits since we’ve separated, dear Captain. I see you’ve managed to keep yourself in good company. To think I would see you again, An’raie. It has been quite a few centuries,” Ilzahold said while An’raie frowned.

“‘Tis a few centuries too short, Witch of the Scaled Mountains. Sun days rise and moon nights fall, but whispers of thine deeds resound throughout the world of D’orn. Even now, the war between thee and the Drake King, Ḩgaễnkual, still showed their effects when I last held freedom. Now, mine gaze falls upon this man-spawn. His body and soul have been painted with the Mark of Hoɖ. What hast thou been up to grant such favor to this man-spawn?” the Lonely Wail asked.

Liara chuckled and her eyes fell on me. “‘Tis not known to me. I’ve merely become invested in the future of this captain. Who doesn’t appear to be as young as I assumed,” Ilzahold said with a knowing smirk that I returned. Well, it wasn’t like I didn’t expect this to happen.

“Aye, perhaps. Anyway, the two may reminisce another time. Liara, where have you ended up? Though I know you to be powerful, the isles cannot be countered by you alone. Is there any way you can link yourself to me? We’re not alone on the island,” I said.

I felt something was wrong when Liara’s smile slowly faltered. “Indeed. I’ve sensed the dangers circulating around the island. ‘Tis the likes of which I’ve not seen for nearly 700 years. There is a powerful presence here, one that calls strongly even to me. I find it most odd. I’m aware of its control. I’ve easily broken free of it over a hundred times, and yet my steps led me through the veil. I thank thee, dear captain. ‘Tis because of you that I have finally gained even greater wisdom and meaning than before. I shall delve deeper.”

I growled. A sense of foreboding filled me for I knew what was happening to Liara. It was why I wished for her and Th’am to not meet. That same dreaded feeling from before, I was feeling it now.

-x-

“Worry not, dear captain. I shall remain as safe as I can. ‘Tis not first time I’ve been in perilous circumstances. However, I am with you now because I desire a favor. I must ask that you… take care of my guard. I shall be sending her to your ship,” Liara said.

I frowned. “And why can’t you come as well?”

“I only have enough mana to save this one,” Liara said.

-x-

I watched the spirits of the wind circle around that arrow as it disappeared into the sandy dust. Then, the beaches ruptured in a violent gust of wind, pushing away the cloudy dust and the people fighting.

As the battle dispersed, my eyes widened. I saw Diane on one side of the beacher with my crew on the other. Though I was confused, I didn’t have to be for very long. I saw Burnwood unlike I’d ever seen her before. Her eyes glowed with green fire. A putrid, dark green special crown adorned her head. Her pistols and her jacket were lined with green fire like those of a race of undead skeleton.

“CAPTAIN!”

People shouted for me as they waved to me. I saw Nz’ia and Alteria covered in bruises and burns. They both held their weapons up, staring between Diane and myself.

Was this what Liara meant when she told me to take care of her guard? The bitch looked just like Maeloson did before he attacked me. No, maybe that’s wrong. She looked even worse than he did. While the male elf was under the influence of whatever was controlling him, Diane looked like she’d been bathed in the stuffy a hundred times over.

“‘Tis the Flames of Raganthor..."

“And how should I break it?”

“‘Tis not known to me. Such a spell transcends even my understanding.”

-x-

“Ellen, are you fucking done?!” I asked, a bit of impatience seeping into my voice through the mind spell I was using.

“We just fucking finished! If you’re gonna do something, I suggest you do it now before the damn island breaks apart!” she replied.

That was the best news I’d heard all day. “Good! Then clear the area, you’re not gonna wanna be around!” I warned.

“Already gone! Don’t need to tell me twice!” she said before I broke the spell.

I turned around just in time to see the magic in our barrier fade away. Unfortunately, I couldn’t hold my surprise because Nz’ia was suddenly punched in the stomach. He coughed as he was propelled through three trees.

“UGH!” I turned around and noticed Diane then had Alteria by her neck. She lifted the Balamar knight high into the air. Aesteal tried what she could, but her arrows didn’t even get close to Burnwood before they were knocked away.

“If thou carest about either of those women, thou should hurry. I sense the magic of the Qliqil, a ninth-tier spell. If she completes that, her mana will be drained and she will die. The knight shall also die,” An’raie warned.

I nodded. It was a surprise Diane could even fire sixth-tier spells so constantly. Clearly, she wasn’t a normal woman to do such a thing. “Aye, then we best make sure that doesn’t happen!” I said as I held up my hand. I zoomed in on Diane’s form.

“Tī,” I casted out.

-x-

Her answer was simple.

Become strong enough. Become strong enough to wipe away the distance between her, myself, and Liara. With the Flames of Rangathor alongside her, she could reassert herself as the second behind Liara. Then, maybe even once Ilzahold herself achieved whatever power she wanted from Delverhold, she’d challenge her too for the honor, pride, and dignity she must have lost when they first fought.

That was Diane Burnwood, a warrior woman starved for battle. I actually wondered why she never bothered to fight Nz’ia. Surely, he could have given her the battle she craved, but perhaps it was because he was too weak from when we’d found him. Not that a weak Xhaluter was anything to scoff at, but I wondered why she’d never gone to him.

I stood up, clarity forming within me. Something mystic touched the soul of my own mind. Whatever trapped my throat from speaking had been burned away.

“You must think me a naive brat, Diane. You think me unused to vengeance, thirst for power, glory, and the fame of battle,” My voice said, ringing through the void around me. I wasn’t sure why, but I felt warm inside. I felt something powerful from within me.

“Don’t fucking kid yourself, Burnwood. I too have felt the sting of defeat. I have seen the splendors of the world and felt the harsh stairs that many climb for their own glory. However, unlike you, I live me own life with freedom and adventure. The seas are my conquest and my trials. Enemy ships are my targets. Gold and riches be mine to plunder, and I take as I wish! Dare you need me to prove it? Fine, even if I didn’t have my powers I wouldn’t use them on you. A worthless bitch who would allow herself to be controlled, to have her destiny at the whims of another, be unfit for me to use them! Can you even pride yourself as a guard to the most powerful sorceress in all the realms if this be your solution? I don’t remember desiring such a weakling to board my ship upon this voyage’s conclusion!”