AO 4 Ch 11 (Patreon)

Chapter 11

Melida wrapped more furs around herself. Even after going around and plugging all of the holes she could in the fort herself, the damned stone bucket was drafty as hell. And the stupid area was just simply damned cold.

Every time she stepped out of bed, and her toes touched that stone floor, she regretted leaving the comfort of her bed.

Yet, there was always so much to do. So she promptly bundled herself up and added wood to the fireplace to get to work.

Like today. Today, she was curled over her desk cutting open letters.

“Tea.” Brusset placed a cup in front of her and immediately filled it with steaming water.

Melida picked up the tea, ignoring the burn on her tongue and lips, just for the warmth to fill her core. “Ah. Keep them coming.” She set down her cup again. “I wish I had your fortitude for the cold.” She glanced up at her northman anchor, adviser and husband.

“It’s the size.” He spoke gently considering his size and intensity.

Brusset was a big man, in every way. Ard used to compare him to a walking bear. He wasn’t wrong. Brusset was comparable to the northern variety that were giant walking death machines. Though they looked very cute and fluffy.

“Well, maybe I should get a life mage to fix that for me.” Melida grumbled without any true desire to change.

“Just eat more before the next time we winter in a fortress.” Brusset advised.

“Get myself a little fat?” She chuckled. “Sadly, we were without much warning. Dropped Ard off only to get shipped back to the front lines. I’d hoped to go south where we could do more than babysit this stupid pass. No one even dares cross the pass with fortresses on either end. Especially in winter.”

The desert to the south sucked all the humidity from the air, and the chill winter breeze fell down from the peaks to the north.

Sometimes the soldiers tried to see if their piss would freeze by the time it hit the ground when they peed off the walls.

“It was the easiest path between the two capitals, when we weren’t at war.” Brusset clarified with the last bit, using his bulk to press up against her back.

Melida’s body sagged into the sudden warmth. The man was like a blanket left by the fire. After taking a moment to enjoy the heat, she reached forward and grabbed her next letter, reading it and gathering the ongoing news.

For the most part, all the news was rather dull.

She unfurled another and read over it once, then sat forward more engrossed in the letter than Brusset’s warmth. “Holy fuck.” She breathed.

“Mmm?” Brusset leaned over her, encompassing her in his warmth again and also reading the letter.

She didn’t spell it out for him; he read faster than her.

The northman was far more intelligent than most people assumed he would be. “Oh. Arden has grown.”

“He dealt with it?” Melida squinted. “They’d have said he killed it if he actually did. Knowing Ard, he probably got in its face and mocked it until the giant wyrm ran home with its tail between its nethers.” She continued down the letter to the bottom and checked for a back. There was more from her father.

“Oh. That’s probably wise.” The man was ahead of her now.

Melida got to the point of the letter that made Brusset comment. “He’s coming here.” She breathed. “We have a fire mage!”

“That’s what’s important?” He sounded disappointed.

“Yes. That and I can probably guide him better than the rest of the commanders. I mean, can you imagine him under Tance? God, that both Zuri and Taric are his children is wild. They couldn’t be more different.” Melida shook her head. She didn’t need Ard killing her cousin, and the two of them would clash like angry mountain goats.

“Zuri takes after her mother.” Brusset agreed.

Malida grunted in agreement and continued down. “Oh.” Her mood sobered. “Brimsam died; you were right.”

“Those people were looking for him. I told you.” Brusset shook his head. “Something is very wrong. Even if those corrupted were some of the strongest that we’ve seen, they shouldn’t have killed an elder.”

Malida shook her head. “My grandfather thinks it stinks of foul play.” She tapped the line. “He’s only this superfluous with words when he’s not saying something that he very much wished he could put in the letter. That means it’s the other faction. Carmilla had him killed or did it herself. Though, I find it hard to believe she could take an elder without anything more than an ambush.”

“She is crafty.” Brusset added.

“She’s had all the power in the world handed to her on a silver platter. Three spheres and keys to the kingdom while the King and First Prince prance off on the front lines like war heroes. Those two underestimate her because she’s a woman. I’d bet both my spheres on her having a plan to kill them or shove them off the throne.” Melida read the letter again, looking for hidden clues as to her grandfather’s state, but he didn’t leave anything. “But hey, we get Ard. So brush up on your jokes Brusset. If we entertain him, he’ll probably keep the room warm with how much he talks at least.”

The big man gave her a long drawn out sigh.

“Don’t be like that. You like him too even if you hide it.” She jabbed at the big man’s side trying to tickle him.

It never worked.

He just encompassed her in a big hug and dragged her out of the chair. “I know a good way to warm you up.”

***

As dawn broke, blood dripped from the inside of the Avente command tent. A man in Garrish uniform cradled a man in his arms.

The man tried to struggle, his cord like muscles flexing but they put up the same struggle as an infant in their mother’s arms.

The Garrish man was holding him with a tender look in his eyes. “Don’t worry. I saved you for last.” He hissed through two large fangs in his mouth.

There wasn’t a sound in the rest of camp. In fact, it was eerily quiet considering blood was dripping from the lip of the command tent.

Bodies of several anchors were strewn about around the two men.

Each of them had their limbs broken and a pair of puncture wounds on their neck.

Blood was everywhere.

The Garrish man was covered liberally, as if he’d bathed in the blood while the Trevis commander struggled.

The man had enough similar features to tie him to his daughter Zuri, but nobody was around to recognize him.

“You monster.” Mage Tance Trevis growled only for the man to slap him in the face hard enough to shatter his jaw.

“I know.” He drew blood shapes along Mage Trevis’ face. “That’s the best part.” He whispered conspiratorially with a manic grin. “I get to be a monster.”

“I won’t tell you anything.” Mage Trevis tried to use his magic, but then a slap echoed across his face, the pain breaking his focus.

“None of that. Don’t think that I’m here to get any of your ‘secrets’. No, I’ll read your letters for that. I’m here because you smelled so good.” The Garrish commander huffed at the mage’s neck and sighed as his eyes rolled up. “I love mages.”

As he talked, it was clear his teeth had large fangs and to make him even stranger he’d lost all of his hair. Not that it mattered.

The strength the Garrish mage possessed now spoke volumes more than any carefully crafted hair.

If he wanted, he could grow it back with life magic.

But he did not care. Making sure he looked good was the last thing on his mind.

Especially as his fangs sank into the mage.

The hardened warrior screamed like a pig as the fang pierced his neck and his mind.

Colin slurped at the neck, but the blood was just accidental as his lips sucked. The motion helped him get what he was really after.

The man’s soul slowly slid from his head, and he struggled harder.

Colin gripped the man so tightly that the bones of his face shattered. In death, people released their soul so much more easily. He slurped it out much in the way a person would suck the best juice from a mussel.

He pulled his fang from the now corpse and rolled it off his lap as he wiped his lips. “I’m done.” He called out of the tent.

Two Garrish mages entered the tent, their eyes wide as they saw the destruction. “We’re cleaning up the rest of his forces. With you taking care of all the mages and anchors, they scattered and the mage-forged are taking care of them.”

“Capture as many as you can. We’ll break them and convert them to mage-forged.” Colin nodded.

“Some of our existing ones will expire by the time we do that.” The mage argued before losing all the blood from his face. “I— I am only informing you sir.”

Colin waved the man’s worry away. “Gather those that would expire and fill them with magic. Break them up into five to ten man teams and send them as deep into Avente territory as you can. Tell them to slaughter the peasants and the farmers. We’ll break the soldiers we can. Keep them in Avente uniforms and prepare to move north around the desert.” It was wonderful to watch the horror of people fighting their own countrymen.

“Chillwind?” The other mage realized where they were heading.

“Our king prepares an army even now to launch across the pass as soon as the spring thaw comes. We must open the way for him.”

To their credit, neither of them batted an eyelash at his assumption that they’d take the fortress. The losses for this fort had been minimal.

Without mages or anchors, the soldiers barely stood a chance.

Colin had begun to love hunting at night. A part of him was absolutely thrilled by moving silently through the enemy camp, crushing their strongest pieces one after the other.

He strode over to the simple desk that was strewn about with letters, picking up a half finished one he read it over and used the quill, matching the script perfectly and finishing it.

“All is good here,” Colin dipped the quill into the ink and pulled out a new piece of parchment. “But a few more mages wouldn’t hurt.”

After all, he was very hungry.

***

“I’ve never heard of the inner world you built being damaged by using soul magic.” Eva frowned and glanced at Uncle Valken to her side.

He shook his head as well. “It could be a four sphere thing, but I suspect it’s largely because you performed such a drastic act with such little practice. You inverted a magically resistant monster.”

“I was trying to lift it, like I tried for the table.” I shrugged.

We had been traveling for a week. Our caravan had a dozen carriages and wagons moving through the train. To keep people sane, we rotated around who was in each carriage.

This was the first time I’d been able to have such an open conversation with my tutor and the Vel’shae. Aurelia had been quiet, but she was sitting to my side staring out the window.

If I had to guess, she was looking for something to kill.

“How’s that working for you?” Eva asked.

“Not well, if I’m honest.” I shrugged. “How am I going to get better if I don’t practice? Hold still for a moment.” I stuck my tongue out as if I were concentrating and stared at her.

Eva jumped out of her seat and squirmed like she could escape whatever I was doing. “Do not do that.” She glanced at her guard who hadn’t moved. “You’re supposed to protect me.”

“He’s not doing anything.” The Vel’shae had a slight smirk on his face as he watched the two of us.

“I would rather not get inverted.” Eva huffed and sat back down, glaring at me with her pretty blue eyes. At least I got to see a very princess side to her as she demanded for help.

I rather enjoyed her glare. Plus, this trip had been boring so far.

Some would say that safe was good, but I was looking forward to the town we were stopping in soon. I needed something to do; Emlyn called me out for repeating a joke this morning.

I could not believe I was hitting the point where I had to use old material.

“Well then teach me how not to invert something.” I held my hands out in a plea for help.

“Try small things for now. Like, very small and probably not something you’d be sad to see break.” Eva sighed. “Honestly, I’m disappointed in myself. Here I thought I was going to teach the first four sphere in a thousand years, and it turns out that my knowledge isn’t as useful as I thought.”

“Eh. You probably saved my life.” I chuckled. “If I hadn’t tried soul magic with you and learned I could destroy things like that table, then I wouldn’t have used it on the creslin. And let me tell you, I didn’t use it until we were out of options. So, thank you for coming all the way here. I’m sure you didn’t come for nothing so let me know how I can help you.” I met her eyes seriously.

She blushed under my gaze and quickly glanced away. “It’s fine. Good relations with you will help tremendously in the future.”

“I’m the reason we’re here.” Uncle Valken added. “There are a few things I plan to check on with access to your Capital. I wish we were headed to Hidavente. There are likely some helpful items there, but The Heldrin Enclave still has many items of interest to me.”

“Going to rob us blind?” I teased.

“Is it stealing if it belongs to the Zenov family?” The Vel’shae grinned. His teeth had been filed back down. They had grown out over the travels, but we were stopping at the town today, and he had once again ensured his disguise was in place.

“Guess not. Rob the Royal Family blind for all I care.” There was no lost love between Carmilla and I. The second prince had extended his hand for the marriage of his sister, but the more I learned about noble society, the more I was happy that I had dodged that bullet.

Bianca was just an extension of his power. She wasn’t her own person, and I wasn’t interested in dating the second prince’s shadow.

“Well, how about I tell you about Zenovia?” Eva broke back in, trying to engage me in conversation.

I leaned forward. “I lived across the bog from it for my whole life, but I never really knew much besides that’s where the corrupted went.”

Eva grimaced. “They aren’t Vel’shae, but we can help them give their spheres up to make a Vel’shae and stop the corruption. Unfortunately, they don’t always do well once their magic dries up. Some become anchors, but many hop on a ship and leave in search of another cure.”

“Ah.” I had wondered about that. “There are lots of ships leaving Zenovia, right?”

“Many.” Eva agreed. “Your port was quite small to me. We have six major port cities on the peninsula. Being surrounded by water on three sides makes the climate much milder… and wetter.” She added the last after a wry grin spread over her face. “We’re a big trade hub for ships that are traveling between Trence and Kaldora.”

I blinked at her stupidly.

“Right. With the mountains cutting off your coast, and your major port being out of the way, you don’t interact much with the other continents.” She cleared her throat. “Basically, it’s a long journey and they either get to pick the Southern Isles or Zenovia to stop along the way and restock food and water. The Southern Isles can be a little chaotic at the best of times. There are like five different ‘nations’ that are constantly shifting down there.”

I nodded along having learned some of the history of The Southern Isles from Maribelle’s lessons. “They all fight over the central island because it’s a holy ground for them.”

“Yep. Which means you can go there for a cheaper stop, but you risk getting your throat slit by a zealot that wants to add your ship to their navy. Or, you can come to beautiful Zenovia.”

“What a sales pitch.” I added dryly.

She shrugged. “The port cities are still expanding their docks with all the ships that come in. Our neighbors kind of suck, but the natural barriers keep them at bay.”

“I would agree. If Avente thought it could take your ports, they wouldn’t have stopped at the bog and tried to take everything back.” That part of history was perfectly clear. “What about the people?”

“They are the same. A thousand years isn’t enough to make that much of a difference. The people used to be one and the same before the bridge through the bog was burned.” Eva was adamant on that point. “Zenovia takes care of its people very well though. From what I’ve seen here, your villagers are rather poor.”

“It’s a bigger country.” Valken spoke up. “The current Zenovia is very lucky to have a wealth of trade and a small region. In the past we would have had to spread the same surplus over a much larger area.”

“Not to mention just moving it to another area would eat up much of those resources.” I could imagine how it would be hard to redistribute wealth over that much land. “What about the Zenov Family there? Are they good rulers? I guess they are my family. Hope they aren’t dicks.”

Eva glanced at Valken.

The Vel’shae shrugged. “There are more than a few who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth and never quite learn better. That the strongest mage of the generation takes over helps. The first type never make it very far. Sadly, it does mean those with a predisposition for power get more power. I can’t say they’ve all been benevolent rulers. The Vel’shae have removed one in my time.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Removed?”

“We Vel’shae hold a lot of power. Not only do we hold magical strength, but many of us old geezers hold a fair amount of political power. King Sepsum was removed by a council of eighteen of the oldest Vel’shae and forced to retire early. Of course, then the next set of juniors vied for the position.”

I perked up, tilting my head as I considered that information. “Could I vie for the next throne of Zenovia?” It was mostly an idle curiosity.

Aurelia perked up from where she’d been looking out the window. “Would you?”

“Probably not. Maybe I’d go up there, put a crown on my head and sit in the throne long enough for my ass to get sore then fuck off.” I laughed as the other two occupants were stunned. “Being a king is likely not for me. Too much responsibility and not enough fun.”

The carriage came to a stop and I leaned to look out the window.

“We’re at the gate for the town.” Aurelia said.

I rubbed my hands together in excitement. “Good. I want out of here. Come on! We’ll go make a stand.” I pushed open the door.

“A stand for what?” Aurelia rushed out after me.