Grand Game 332: A Visit from an Unwelcome Guest (Patreon)

I emerged from the fog bank to find Elron and his men on the move. I frowned. Just as I’d expected, the marshal’s company had retreated to shelter beneath the city’s walls, but now they were swinging further west and toward the second seed.

“What is he up to?” I muttered. Jogging forward, I hurried to find out.

Behind me, the nether was already dissipating, and it wouldn’t be long before it vanished entirely. Catching up to the marching soldiers, I stormed to the fore. “What are you doing?” I yelled.

Elron glanced over his shoulder at me but didn’t respond or halt the column. He had not bothered to remount his horse and was on foot like the rest of his men. Forced to keep pace if I wanted answers, I dropped into step with the marshal.

“You said the harbinger is coming,” Elron replied when I drew alongside him. He added nothing further as if his words were explanation enough.

I stared at him blankly for a moment. “All the more reason to get your people behind the city walls. If the harbinger catches your company out in the open, your losses will be incalculable.”

To my surprise, my words did not deter Elron. “My people know how to deal with that flying horror. We can hold him at bay—for a time.”

My eyes narrowed. “How do you plan on doing that?”

Elron smiled mysteriously—in gentle mockery of my own prior response, I suspected. “You’ll see,” he said.

I ground my teeth in frustration, but let the matter be. After all, it was Elron’s own people whom the harbinger endangered, not me. I could look after myself well enough. “You still haven’t told me why you are marching west,” I pointed out.

“To attack the second seed, of course,” he replied deadpan.

I stopped short. “That was not the deal,” I growled harshly.

Stepping out of the column, Elron waved his men on while he turned around to face me. “The deal’s changed,” he said, his own face hard.

I balled my hands into fists. I couldn’t believe it. The marshal had decided to renege on my deal with the council. I’d thought better of him. What had possessed him to such foolishness?

“It’s not what you think,” Elron said, sensing the direction of my thoughts. “I haven’t betrayed you. But the harbinger’s coming changes everything.”

I was unmoved. “Why?”

“Don’t you see? Once that flying horror arrives, he’ll realize what’s happened. The other stygians may be mindless beasts, but not the harbinger. He’ll make sure to reinforce the second seed, perhaps even guard it himself, and we’ll have lost our chance.”

My lips stayed drawn into a tight line, but inwardly I groaned. Much as it galled me to admit, Elron was right. Once the harbinger took charge of the seed’s guards, it would be out of reach.

Taking out a single seed was never a viable plan.

I should have figured out as much myself before this. But done was done, and there was little point dwelling on my miscalculation. Right now, I had to decide how to move on.

I did not for a second contemplate withdrawing and leaving Elron and his men to fend for themselves, though. True, if I destroyed the second seed, I would lose my leverage and would be forced to trust in the council’s honor.

I snorted, imagining how much—or little—that was worth.

Still, I had many reasons for aiding New Haven and obtaining the portal’s exit location was just one of them. Even if the council did back out of our deal, it did not justify alienating the city—as I surely would do if I refused to aid Elron now. And besides, when it came right down to it, I didn’t have the stomach to stand idle and watch the soldiers die.

“What’s your plan then?” I asked, turning back to the marshal.

Relief flitted across the dark elf’s face. “The same as before. You direct our fire, and we kill the stygians.”

Nodding sharply, I hurried forward. “Then let’s be about it.”

✵ ✵ ✵

The company deployed itself rapidly under Elron’s guidance, the archers forming ranks and unshouldering their bows while the pikemen lined up in front of them.

Still, it was too slow.

Before the first arrow could even be fired, the harbinger made an appearance. “Damn it,” I hissed, spotting a distant speck on the horizon.

“What is it?” Elron asked sharply, following my gaze.

His eyes were not as sharp as my own. “The harbinger,” I replied.

Elron cursed. “You have sharp eyes for a human.”

“I’m a player, remember.” I looked from the stygian winging closer to the dressed lines of soldiers. “What do you want to do?”

“We keep going,” the marshal replied grimly. His gaze darted to the city walls. “Let them worry about the harbinger.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I spotted dozens of blue-robed figures lining the city walls. “Mages?” I guessed.

Elron nodded. “They’ll buy us some time, but not much. We’ll have to hurry things along.”

I debated questioning him further but held my peace. If the marshal’s confidence in New Haven’s mages was misplaced, it was his own men who would pay the price. “As you wish.” I pointed to where Ghost reported the crawlers to be. “That’s where you men should aim.”

Elron passed on my directions to his officers. “Give the order to fire and tell the archers not to stop until I say otherwise.”

“You heard the marshal!” a captain barked. “Fire at will and kill those bastards!”

The longbowmen were eager to begin. Having seen the direction of Elron and my gazes, not a few of them eyed the sky tremulously, but despite weak knees and shaky hands, the archers held their lines and did as ordered.

A scant second later, one thousand arrows darkened the sky, and before they could even begin their descent, another thousand trailed after them. But given the hurried nature of the volley, the arrow fire was less concentrated and directed than it could have been.

The first wave killed five crawlers. The second, twice that. And the third, barely a dozen. Still, the unending arrow storm succeeded in its intent, and in response, the crawlers surged forward.

“Stop!” I barked as soon as Ghost reported the stygians’ movements. “The crawlers have been baited into engaging.” I glanced skyward. The harbinger was still far enough that the company could reach the walls before he arrived. “Have your men retreat.”

“But why?” Elron protested. “We haven’t killed the creatures yet.”

“Killing the stygians is not the objective,” I said. “Destroying the seed is. With the crawlers out of the way, I can sneak into the mist and kill the thing.” I gestured at the onrushing harbinger. Even the weaker-sighted marshal could not fail to see him now. “Or do you mean to tell me your mages can protect your men when your company is this far out?”

Elron hesitated for a moment before conceding. “No, not easily, they can’t.” Spinning on his heel, he signaled to his officers.

“Company, retreat!” a captain barked in response. “Double time!”

“Eyes up, archers,” another ordered. “Infantry, pikes forward.”

Once more, the New Haven soldiers showed remarkable discipline. Pointing their bows skyward, the archers rose to their feet and backstepped in good order. The pikeman followed on their heels, eyes fixed on the onrushing stygian horde.

Seeing that Elron had matters well in hand, I gestured Ghost forward and rushed on after her.

✵ ✵ ✵

I ran straight at the horde of charging crawlers, closing the distance rapidly. But Ghost outpaced me and before the stygians could reach attack range, she entered the fog bank. Weaving psi, I shadow blinked past the creatures.

You have teleported to Ghost. You are hidden.

I emerged, wrapped in mist and free of threat. Dropping into a crouch, I padded forward with half an ear trained on the ongoings at my rear. The fog muffled sounds but the angry hissing of the crawlers and the trample of the soldiers’ feet still carried clearly to me.

The clash of steel and cries of men cut through the air.

“Ghost, tell me what’s happening,” I ordered, unable to resist knowing any longer.

“The crawler and pikemen lines have met.” She paused. “The stygians’ charge has been rebuffed and the soldiers are continuing their retreat.”

“And the archers?”

“They watch the sky, waiting for the harbinger to draw closer.”

I nodded. “Can you tell the harbinger’s destination yet? Is he heading for the seed or the battle?”

This time, Ghost took longer to reply. “He is flying to the crawler’s aid, I think.”

That reassured me. If the stygian Power knew I was in the fog bank, he would have no compunctions about sacrificing the crawlers to save the seed. He must believe the soldiers were responsible for the first seed’s destruction, I thought as I continued my careful advance. “Where is Elron’s company now?”

“They’ve nearly reached the city’s wall. The crawlers continue to harass the pikemen, but they are holding them off.” She paused. “A dome of silver has sprung up around the city. It extends a few yards beyond the walls, too.”

“A dome?” I asked, startled. “And it’s over the entire city, you say?” I would not have thought any single player powerful enough to cast a shield around an entire city, much less a group of non-players.

“Yes,” she replied. “What is it?”

“Probably a shield of sorts,” I replied. “What do the stygians make of it?”

Ghost waited a breath to see how events would unfold. “The archers have passed into the dome.” She paused again. “Now, the pikeman.” Another moment of silence. “The crawlers have been rebuffed by the shield.”

“And the harbinger?”

“He’s drawing up to the shield now. It looks like he means to charge straight at it.” A drawn-out breath of silence. I waited impatiently. “The stygian has been rebuffed.”

I exhaled in relief. “That’s good,” I said. So, Elron’s confidence in the mages was not unfounded, I mused. Still, I could not understand how the city wielded such powerful magics—and that being the case, why I hadn’t seen evidence of it before this.

I reorientated myself on the seed. Now that I was sure the city could hold off the harbinger, it was time to see my own task done.

Padding forward, I crept deeper into the mists.

✵ ✵ ✵

The weavers were agitated.

With Ghost guiding me, I closed the distance to the seed but, to my dismay, found that the weavers had enabled all their defenses—including their mental ones. Whether it was the harbinger’s coming that had caused this abundance of caution or the death of the other seed, I wasn’t sure.

Whatever the reason, it complicated the job at hand.

Six hostile entities have failed to detect you! You are hidden.

Sitting about ten yards from the seed, and with the closest two weavers just within sight range, I considered my next steps. I wasn’t sure if attacking the creatures would alert the harbinger, but with the stygian minor Power so close, I couldn’t risk it.

“What are you going to do?” Ghost asked.

“The only thing I can,” I replied grimly. “Sneak past.”

“Will that work?” Ghost asked doubtfully.

“Only one way to find out,” I said, inching forward. The weavers had arranged themselves in a circle around the seed, with each of them facing in a different direction. It was a good tactic, except that the creatures had formed their guard circle too large.

There were gaps.

Only a few feet separated the stygians from each other, but that was enough for me to slip through. Bent nearly half double, I crept forward.

Six hostile entities have failed to detect you!

An ice bomb was in my right hand and, in my left, a stone. I held both ready but made no move to throw either as I took my next step.

Six hostile entities have failed to detect you!

Lifting my right foot, I extended it forward and gently touched the boot down before slowly rolling my weight onto it and picking up my left leg.

Another step taken.

Six hostile entities have failed to detect you!

Six feet separated me from the two closest weavers. My left leg rotated forward. Five feet. My right leg stretched out. Four feet. Another step. Three feet.

Six hostile entities have failed to detect you!

Sweat dribbled down my forehead. Ignoring it, I advanced again. The two weavers were now so close that if I reached out with my hands, I could touch their raised pincers.

One more step, then a second, and I drew even with the two guards. Little more than a handspan separated me from either.

Another careful step, and I was through.

Six hostile entities have failed to detect you!

My tension eased. I’d penetrated the guard circle, and the most difficult part was behind me. Still, that did not mean I was in the clear. Taking a moment, I renewed my buffs before resuming my advance.

Six hostile entities have failed to detect you!

I covered the remaining distance to the seed with growing confidence and reached it without mishap. Elated, I stood unseen over my target.

My mind shield was up, and the thing did not appear aware of my presence. Carefully stowing away both rock and bomb, I quietly unsheathed ebonheart. Once I struck, things would speed up again. I couldn’t see Ghost, but I trusted she was in position. Raising the black blade, I took careful aim.

And struck.

You have cast piercing strike. You had destroyed a stygian seed!

A weaver hissed. I dropped my mind shield.

The six began turning about. I wove psi. From beyond the mist, an unholy shriek sounded—the harbinger’s cry of rage. Undoubtedly, it was winging my way at the fastest pace it could manage.

Magic projectiles raced my way. Making no attempt to dodge, I kept casting.

A blight thorn has injured you!

A blight thorn has injured you!

…

Your void armor has reduced the nether damage incurred by 35%.

Void thief triggered! You have acquired the spell, blight thorn (stolen).

The spelled attacks slammed into me one after the other, causing me to stagger drunkenly, but my void armor reduced the damage to manageable levels, and more importantly, I held on to my concentration.

A heartbeat later, my spell completed, and I vanished.

You have teleported 45 yards to Ghost.

Emerging out of the aether, I dived into a forward roll and wrapped myself in mist.

The ground shook.

Something large had landed—the harbinger. Stilling, I waited.

Seven hostile entities have failed to detect you! You are hidden.

I smiled. The winged stygian had landed by the seed, and I was already out of his detection range. My task was done and now all that was left was to escape.

Rising into a crouch, I crept away.